Reaching global HIV/AIDS goals: What got us here, won't get us there

Root Cause Analysis of Increased Referral Rates in a Sub-district Hospital, Tamil Nadu: A Quality Improvement Initiative

Background Sub-district hospitals in Tamil Nadu are critical in providing essential healthcare services, but they face significant challenges that can lead to increased patient referrals to higher-level facilities. High referral rates can overburden tertiary care centers, delay specialized treatment, and affect patient outcomes. This study aims to identify the root causes of increased referral rates in a sub-district hospital and implement targeted interventions to reduce unnecessary referrals. Methods A descriptive study was conducted at Sriperumbudur sub-district hospital in Tamil Nadu from May to August 2023. The study utilized a root cause analysis (RCA) approach, incorporating qualitative data from brainstorming sessions with healthcare providers and administrative staff, and quantitative data from hospital records on referral rates. A fishbone (Ishikawa) diagram was employed to map causal factors, and Pareto and bar charts were used to analyze and present referral trends. Interventions were implemented using the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle. Results The analysis identified several key factors contributing to high referral rates, including inadequate diagnostic services, insufficient staffing, and lack of essential resources such as CT scans and blood components. Following targeted interventions, referral rates decreased significantly from 101 cases in May-June 2023 to 52 cases in July-August 2023 highlighting a reduction of over 48%. The most notable reductions were seen in referrals for road traffic accidents with head injury (38.7%) reduction, chronic kidney disease (CKD)/hypertension (HT)/diabetes mellitus (DM) (46.2%) reduction, and crush injuries (45.5%) reduction. Conclusions The RCA revealed systemic issues that were contributing to increased referral rates at the sub-district hospital. Implementing targeted interventions based on the RCA findings led to a significant reduction in referrals, improving patient care at the local level and alleviating the burden on tertiary care centers. This study underscores the importance of continuous quality improvement initiatives in strengthening healthcare delivery at the sub-district level.

Implementing six multi-month dispensing of antiretroviral therapy in Ethiopia: perspectives of clients and healthcare workers

BACKGROUND

Multi-month dispensing (MMD) of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is an integral component of differentiated HIV service delivery for people living with HIV (PLHIV). Although many countries have scaled up ART dispensing to 3-month intervals, Ethiopia was the first African country to implement six-month dispensing (6-MMD) at scale, introducing its Appointment Spacing Model (ASM) for people doing well on ART in 2017. As of June 2021, 51.4% (n = 215,101) of PLHIV on ART aged ≥ 15 years had enrolled in ASM. Since little is known about the benefits and challenges of ASM perceived by Ethiopian clients and their healthcare workers (HCWs), we explored how the ASM was being implemented in Ethiopia's Oromia region in September 2019.

METHODS

Using a parallel convergent mixed-methods study design, we conducted 6 focus groups with ASM-eligible enrolled clients, 6 with ASM-eligible non-enrolled clients, and 22 in-depth interviews with HCWs. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed and translated into English. We used thematic analysis, initially coding deductively, followed by inductive coding of themes that emerged from the data, and compared the perspectives of ASM-enrolled and non-enrolled clients and their HCWs.

RESULTS

Participants enrolled in ASM and HCWs perceived client-level ASM benefits to include time and cost-savings, fewer work disruptions, reduced stigma due to fewer clinic visits, better medication adherence and improved overall health. Perceived health system-level benefits included improved quality of care, decongested facilities, reduced provider workloads, and improved record-keeping. Although non-enrolled participants anticipated many of the same benefits, their reasons for non-enrollment included medication storage challenges, concerns over less frequent health monitoring, and increased stress due to the large quantities of medicines dispensed. Enrolled participants and HCWs identified similar challenges, including client misunderstandings about ASM and initial ART stock-outs.

CONCLUSIONS

ASM with 6-MMD was perceived to have marked benefits for clients and health systems. Clients enrolled in the ASM and their HCWs had positive experiences with the model, including perceived improvements in efficiency, quality and convenience of HIV treatment services. The concerns of non-ASM enrolled participants suggest the need for enhanced client education about the model and more discreet and efficiently packaged ART and highlight that ASM is not ideal for all clients.

Comprehensive Process Mapping and Qualitative Interviews to Inform Implementation of Rapid Linkage to HIV Care Programs in a Mid-Sized Urban Setting in the Southern United States

BACKGROUND

Rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, in which people living with HIV start ART within days of diagnosis, is a key component of the US Ending the HIV Epidemic initiative.

SETTING

The Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area ranked fourth in the United States for the highest HIV incidence per 100,000 population in 2018. Rapid ART programs are limited in the Memphis Metropolitan Statistical Area, and our objective was to identify local implementation barriers.

METHODS

We conducted participatory process mapping and in-depth interviews to detail steps between HIV testing at the municipal health department's Sexually Transmitted Infections Clinic and ART prescription from a nearby high-volume Ryan White-funded HIV Clinic.

RESULTS

Process mapping identified 4 modifiable, rate-limiting rapid ART barriers: (1) requiring laboratory-based confirmatory HIV results, (2) eligibility documentation requirements for Ryan White-funded services, (3) insufficient HIV Clinic medical provider availability, and (4) variability in ART initiation timing among HIV Clinic providers. Staff at both sites highlighted suboptimal communication and sense of shared management between facilities, limited resources to address important social determinants of health, and lack of Medicaid expansion in Tennessee as key barriers. In-depth interview themes negatively affecting rapid ART initiation included clinic burden; provider knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs; and client psychosocial needs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our preimplementation work identified modifiable and systemic barriers to systems flow and patient-level outcomes. This work will inform the design and implementation of a locally relevant rapid ART program in Memphis, a community disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic.

Co-creation of HIVST delivery approaches for improving urban men’s engagement with HIV services in eThekwini District, KwaZulu-Natal: nominal group technique in intervention development

Background

HIV self-testing (HIVST) is one of the recommended approaches for HIV testing services, particularly for helping reach populations who would not normally access facility-based HIV testing. Key stakeholder engagement is paramount in tailoring health interventions to ensure uptake by target populations.

Objective

The main objective of this study was to collaborate with key stakeholder in the co-creation of an acceptable HIVST delivery strategies to help improve urban men’s engagement with HIV services.

Methods

We invited key stakeholders for urban men’s HIV services to participate in a co-creation workshop aimed at developing HIVST delivery approaches for urban men, using eThekwini municipality as a study setting. We conducted purposive sampling to include health care users and health care providers, representing a range of views across the public sector and voluntary sector. We employed the nominal group technique (NGT) method for data collection. The NGT workshop was conducted in two consecutives: phase 1 was focused on determining barriers for men’s engagement with the current/facility-based HIV testing services; phase 2 was aimed at determining HIVST delivery strategies.

Results

Participants identified the following factors as the most important barriers to uptake of HIV testing services by urban men: stigma, ignorance about the importance of testing, and testing process as well as fear of positive test results. Key stakeholders suggested internal motivation strategies as a potentially effective approach to support HIVST delivery strategy. Guided by the NGT results, we designed a HIVST delivery strategy that is supported by a risk communication approach.

Conclusion

The NGT enabled successful collaboration with key stakeholders in the co-creation of HIVST delivery strategies to guide implementation and strategy improve urban men’s engagement with HIV services. A follow-up study to evaluate the feasibility of implementing these approaches is recommended.

"Provider discretionary power practices to support implementation of patient-centered HIV care in Lusaka, Zambia"

Introduction

Traditional patient-provider relationships privilege the providers, as they possess the formal authority and clinical knowledge applied to address illness, but providers also have discretion over how they exercise their power to influence patients' services, benefits, and sanctions. In this study, we assessed providers' exercise of discretionary power in implementing patient-centered care (PCC) practices in Lusaka, Zambia.

Methods

HIV clinical encounters between patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and providers across 24 public health facilities in Lusaka Province were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Using qualitative content analysis, we identified practices of discretionary power (DP) employed in the implementation of PCC and instances of withholding DP. A codebook of DP practices was inductively and iteratively developed. We compared outcomes across provider cadres and within sites over time.

Results

We captured 194 patient-provider interactions at 24 study sites involving 11 Medical Officers, 58 Clinical Officers and 10 Nurses between August 2019 to May 2021. Median interaction length was 7.5 min. In a hierarchy where providers dominate patients and interactions are rapid, some providers invited patients to ask questions and responded at length with information that could increase patient understanding and agency. Others used inclusive language, welcomed patients, conducted introductions, and apologized for delayed services, narrowing the hierarchical distance between patient and provider, and facilitating recognition of the patient as a partner in care. Although less common, providers shared their decision-making powers, allowing patients to choose appointment dates and influence regimens. They also facilitated resource access, including access to services and providers outside of scheduled appointment times. Application of DP was not universal and missed opportunities were identified.

Conclusion

Supporting providers to recognize their power and intentionally share it is both inherent to the practice of PCC (e.g., making a patient a partner), and a way to implement improved patient support. More research is needed to understand the application of DP practices in improving the patient-centeredness of care in non-ART settings.

The effect of tracer contact on return to care among adult, "lost to follow-up" patients living with HIV in Zambia: an instrumental variable analysis

INTRODUCTION

Tracing patients lost to follow-up (LTFU) from HIV care is widely practiced, yet we have little knowledge of its causal effect on care engagement. In a prospective, Zambian cohort, we examined the effect of tracing on return to care within 2 years of LTFU.

METHODS

We traced a stratified, random sample of LTFU patients who had received HIV care between August 2013 and July 2015. LTFU was defined as a gap of >90 days from last scheduled appointment in the routine electronic medical record. Extracting 2 years of follow-up visit data through 2017, we identified patients who returned. Using random selection for tracing as an instrumental variable (IV), we used conditional two-stage least squares regression to estimate the local average treatment effect of tracer contact on return. We examined the observational association between tracer contact and return among patient sub-groups self-confirmed as disengaged from care.

RESULTS

Of the 24,164 LTFU patients enumerated, 4380 were randomly selected for tracing and 1158 were contacted by a tracer within a median of 14.8 months post-loss. IV analysis found that patients contacted by a tracer because they were randomized to tracing were no more likely to return than those not contacted (adjusted risk difference [aRD]: 3%, 95% CI: -2%, 8%, p = 0.23). Observational data showed that among contacted, disengaged patients, the rate of return was higher in the week following tracer contact (IR 5.74, 95% CI: 3.78-8.71) than in the 2 weeks to 1-month post-contact (IR 2.28, 95% CI: 1.40-3.72). There was a greater effect of tracing among patients lost for >6 months compared to those contacted within 3 months of loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, tracer contact did not causally increase LTFU patient return to HIV care, demonstrating the limited impact of tracing in this program, where contact occurred months after patients were LTFU. However, observational data suggest that tracing may speed return among some LTFU patients genuinely out-of-care. Further studies may improve tracing effectiveness by examining the mechanisms underlying the impact of tracing on return to care, the effect of tracing at different times-since-loss and using more accurate identification of patients who are truly disengaged to target tracing.

Utility of a Machine-Guided Tool for Assessing Risk Behavior Associated With Contracting HIV in Three Sites in South Africa: Protocol for an In-Field Evaluation

BACKGROUND

Mobile technology has helped to advance health programs, and studies have shown that an automated risk prediction model can successfully be used to identify patients who exhibit a high probable risk of contracting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A machine-guided tool is an algorithm that takes a set of subjective and objective answers from a simple questionnaire and computes an HIV risk assessment score.

OBJECTIVE

The primary objective of this study is to establish that machine learning can be used to develop machine-guided tools and give us a deeper statistical understanding of the correlation between certain behavioral patterns and HIV.

METHODS

In total, 200 HIV-negative adult individuals across three South African study sites each (two semirural and one urban) will be recruited. Study processes will include (1) completing a series of questions (demographic, sexual behavior and history, personal, lifestyle, and symptoms) on an application system, unaided (assistance will only be provided upon user request); (2) two HIV tests (one per study visit) being performed by a nurse/counselor according to South African national guidelines (to evaluate the prediction accuracy of the tool); and (3) communicating test results and completing a user experience survey questionnaire. The output metrics for this study will be computed by using the participants' risk assessment scores as "predictions" and the test results as the "ground truth." Analyses will be completed after visit 1 and then again after visit 2. All risk assessment scores will be used to calculate the reliability of the machine-guided tool.

RESULTS

Ethical approval was received from the University of Witwatersrand Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC; ethics reference no. 200312) on August 20, 2020. This study is ongoing. Data collection has commenced and is expected to be completed in the second half of 2021. We will report on the machine-guided tool's performance and usability, together with user satisfaction and recommendations for improvement.

CONCLUSIONS

Machine-guided risk assessment tools can provide a cost-effective alternative to large-scale HIV screening and help in providing targeted counseling and testing to prevent the spread of HIV.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

South African National Clinical Trial Registry DOH-27-042021-679; https://sanctr.samrc.ac.za/TrialDisplay.aspx?TrialID=5545.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/30304.

Patient-Centered, Sustainable Hypertension Care: The Case for Adopting a Differentiated Service Delivery Model for Hypertension Services in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Expanding hypertension services in low- and middle-income countries requires efficient and effective service delivery approaches that meet the needs and expectations of people living with hypertension within the resource constraints of existing national health systems. Ideally, a hypertension program will extend treatment coverage while maintaining service quality, maximizing efficient resource utilization and improving clinical outcomes. In this article, we discuss lessons learned from HIV differentiated service delivery initiatives, and make the case that the same approach should be adopted for hypertension programs.

Sexual practices, risk perception and HIV self-testing acceptability among long-distance truck drivers in Ekiti State, Nigeria

BACKGROUND

HIV/AIDS is a global health challenge with a high burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Long-distance drivers are a high-risk group whose assessment of HIV status, awareness and willingness to undergo HIV self-testing (HIVST) could help prevent the spread of HIV infections.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the sexual practices, risk perception and HIVST acceptability among long-distance truck drivers in Ekiti State, Nigeria.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted among long-distance truck drivers between September 2019 and December 2019. A semi-structured questionnaire was designed to investigate the perceived sexual risk factors and willingness to undergo HIVST.

RESULTS

Of the 306 drivers that participated in the study, almost half (49.8%) had their first sexual experience before they turned 18 years. About one-third (38.6%) had multiple sex partners and (34.0%) patronised commercial sex workers in the past 6 months. Consistent use of condoms was reported in a negligible percentage (3.0%), while 7.4% used intravenous drugs. Two-thirds of the respondents were interested in HIVST, while 32.2% knew their HIV status. Significant factors associated with multiple sex partners were the duration of working as a long-distance truck driver and patronage of sex workers.

CONCLUSION

A significant proportion of the long-distance drivers were engaged in unsafe sexual practices and are at risk for HIV transmission. Considering the mobile nature of the long-distance drivers, the risky practices of these workers require intense advocacy, testing and treatment to reduce HIV transmission. Scaling-up testing using HIVST has the potential to bridge the gap in the diagnosis of HIV among long-distance drivers who are willing to be tested.

Novel Longitudinal Methods for Assessing Retention in Care: a Synthetic Review

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Retention in care is both dynamic and longitudinal in nature, but current approaches to retention often reduce these complex histories into cross-sectional metrics that obscure the nuanced experiences of patients receiving HIV care. In this review, we discuss contemporary approaches to assessing retention in care that captures its dynamic nature and the methodological and data considerations to do so.

RECENT FINDINGS

Enhancing retention measurements either through patient tracing or "big data" approaches (including probabilistic matching) to link databases from different sources can be used to assess longitudinal retention from the perspective of the patient when they transition in and out of care and access care at different facilities. Novel longitudinal analytic approaches such as multi-state and group-based trajectory analyses are designed specifically for assessing metrics that can change over time such as retention in care. Multi-state analyses capture the transitions individuals make in between different retention states over time and provide a comprehensive depiction of longitudinal population-level outcomes. Group-based trajectory analyses can identify patient subgroups that follow distinctive retention trajectories over time and highlight the heterogeneity of retention patterns across the population. Emerging approaches to longitudinally measure retention in care provide nuanced assessments that reveal unique insights into different care gaps at different time points over an individuals' treatment. These methods help meet the needs of the current scientific agenda for retention and reveal important opportunities for developing more tailored interventions that target the varied care challenges patients may face over the course of lifelong treatment.

Improving retention in antenatal and postnatal care: a systematic review of evidence to inform strategies for adolescents and young women living with HIV

INTRODUCTION

Young pregnant and postpartum women living with HIV (WLHIV) are at high risk of poor outcomes in prevention of mother-to-child transmission services. The aim of this systematic review was to collate evidence on strategies to improve retention in antenatal and/or postpartum care in this population. We also conducted a secondary review of strategies to increase attendance at antenatal care (ANC) and/or facility delivery among pregnant adolescents, regardless of HIV status, to identify approaches that could be adapted for adolescents and young WLHIV.

METHODS

Selected databases were searched on 1 December 2020, for studies published between January 2006 and November 2020, with screening and data abstraction by two independent reviewers. We identified papers that reported age-disaggregated results for adolescents and young WLHIV aged <25 years at the full-text review stage. For the secondary search, we included studies among female adolescents aged 10 to 19 years.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Of 37 papers examining approaches to increase retention among pregnant and postpartum WLHIV, only two reported age-disaggregated results: one showed that integrated care during the postpartum period increased retention in HIV care among women aged 18 to 24 years; and another showed that a lay counsellor-led combination intervention did not reduce attrition among women aged 16 to 24 years; one further study noted that age did not modify the effectiveness of a combination intervention. Mobile health technologies, enhanced support, active follow-up and tracing and integrated services were commonly examined as standalone interventions or as part of combination approaches, with mixed evidence for each strategy. Of 10 papers identified in the secondary search, adolescent-focused services and continuity of care with the same provider appeared to be effective in improving attendance at ANC and/or facility delivery, while home visits and group ANC had mixed results.

CONCLUSIONS

This review highlights the lack of evidence regarding effective strategies to improve retention in antenatal and/or postpartum care among adolescents and young WLHIV specifically, as well as a distinct lack of age-disaggregated results in studies examining retention interventions for pregnant WLHIV of all ages. Identifying and prioritizing approaches to improve retention of adolescents and young WLHIV are critical for improving maternal and child health.

Bringing HIV services to key populations and their communities in Tanzania: from pilot to scale

INTRODUCTION

Despite the global scale-up of HIV testing, prevention and treatment, these services remain inaccessible to groups most vulnerable to HIV. Globally, most new HIV infections are concentrated among members of key populations (KP), including female sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs and their sexual partners. These populations lag in access to HIV prevention and antiretroviral therapy (ART) and have less favourable HIV outcomes compared to the general population. Intersecting behavioural and structural factors contribute to these gaps in service access for at-risk KP and those living with HIV; corresponding comprehensive approaches to improving service delivery for KP are urgently needed. Differentiated service delivery (DSD) models tailor HIV programmes to the needs and preferences of specific groups but are rarely implemented at scale for KP. We describe the FIKIA Project, which implemented innovative approaches to scaling up DSD models to reach and engage KP in Tanzania.

METHODS

The FIKIA Project worked with diverse KP communities in Tanzania to tailor HIV services to their needs and to pair healthcare workers with trained peer educators and expert client counsellors to expand uptake of community-based HIV testing and ART services. We analysed routine aggregate project data from 2016 to 2020 to describe project implementation, outcomes and best practices.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The FIKIA Project conducted 1,831,441 HIV tests in community settings; of the 98,349 (5.4%) individuals with new HIV diagnoses, 89,640 (91.1%) initiated ART. The project reached substantial numbers of KP: 203,233 received HIV tests, 28,830 (14.2%) received a new HIV diagnosis and 25,170 KP (87.3%) initiated ART at the point of diagnosis. Over time, HIV testing increased by 1.6 times overall (2.3 times among KP), HIV diagnoses increased by 8.7 times (10.9 times among KP) and ART initiation at the point of diagnosis increased from 80.0% to 95.9% overall (from 69.6% to 94.9% among KP).

CONCLUSIONS

Over four years, the FIKIA Project scaled up HIV testing, diagnosis and treatment by using DSD principles to design services that meet the needs of KP and their communities.

Understanding and comparing HIV-related law and policy environments: cross-national data and accountability for the global AIDS response

Law and policy differences help explain why, as HIV-related science has advanced swiftly, some countries have realised remarkable progress on AIDS while others see expanding epidemics. We describe the structure and findings of a new dataset and research platform, the HIV Policy Lab, which fills an important knowledge gap by measuring the HIV-related policy environment across 33 indicators and 194 countries over time, with online access and visualisation. Cross-national indicators can be critical tools in international governance—building social power to monitor state behaviour with the potential to change policy and improve domestic accountability. This new and evolving effort collects data about policy through review of legal documents, official government reports and systematic review of secondary sources. Alignment between national policy environments and global norms is demonstrated through comparison with international public health guidance and agreements. We demonstrate substantial variation in the content of law and policies between countries, regions and policy areas. Given progress in basic and implementation science, it would be tempting to believe most countries have adopted policies aligned with global norms, with a few outliers. Data show this is not the case. Globally, alignment is higher on clinical and treatment policies than on prevention, testing and structural policies. Policy-makers, researchers, civil society, finance agencies and others can use these data to better understand the policy environment within and across countries and support reform. Longitudinal analysis enables evaluation of the impact of laws and policies on HIV outcomes and research about the political drivers of policy choice.

Integrated community-based HIV and non-communicable disease care within microfinance groups in Kenya: study protocol for the Harambee cluster randomised trial

INTRODUCTION

In Kenya, distance to health facilities, inefficient vertical care delivery and limited financial means are barriers to retention in HIV care. Furthermore, the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) among people living with HIV complicates chronic disease treatment and strains traditional care delivery models. Potential strategies for improving HIV/NCD treatment outcomes are differentiated care, community-based care and microfinance (MF).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

We will use a cluster randomised trial to evaluate integrated community-based (ICB) care incorporated into MF groups in medium and high HIV prevalence areas in western Kenya. We will conduct baseline assessments with n=900 HIV positive members of 40 existing MF groups. Group clusters will be randomised to receive either (1) ICB or (2) standard of care (SOC). The ICB intervention will include: (1) clinical care visits during MF group meetings inclusive of medical consultations, NCD management, distribution of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and NCD medications, and point-of-care laboratory testing; (2) peer support for ART adherence and (3) facility referrals as needed. MF groups randomised to SOC will receive regularly scheduled care at a health facility. Findings from the two trial arms will be compared with follow-up data from n=300 matched controls. The primary outcome will be VS at 18 months. Secondary outcomes will be retention in care, absolute mean change in systolic blood pressure and absolute mean change in HbA1c level at 18 months. We will use mediation analysis to evaluate mechanisms through which MF and ICB care impact outcomes and analyse incremental cost-effectiveness of the intervention in terms of cost per HIV suppressed person-time, cost per patient retained in care and cost per disability-adjusted life-year saved.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

The Moi University Institutional Research and Ethics Committee approved this study (IREC#0003054). We will share data via the Brown University Digital Repository and disseminate findings via publication.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT04417127.

Human immunodeficiency virus case detection and antiretroviral therapy enrollment among children below and above 18 months old: A comparative analysis from Cameroon

ABSTRACT

While pediatric human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing has been more focused on children below 18 months through prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT), the yield of this approach remains unclear comparatively to testing children above 18 months through routine provider-initiated testing and counselling (PITC). This study aimed at assessing and comparing the HIV case detection and antiretroviral therapy (ART) enrolment among children below and above 18 months of age in Cameroon. This information is required to guide the investments in HIV testing among children and adolescents.We conducted a cross-sectional study where we invited parents visiting or receiving HIV care in 3 hospitals to have their children tested for HIV. HIV testing was done using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antibody rapid tests for children <18 months and those ≥18 months, respectively. We compared HIV case detection and ART initiation between the 2 subgroups of children and this using Chi-square test at 5% significant level.A total of 4079 children aged 6 weeks to 15 years were included in the analysis. Compared with children <18 months, children group ≥18 months was 4-fold higher among those who enrolled in the study (80.3% vs 19.7%, P < .001); 3.5-fold higher among those who tested for HIV (77.6% vs 22.4%, P < .001); 6-fold higher among those who tested HIV+ (85.7% vs 14.3%, P = .24), and 11-fold higher among those who enrolled on ART (91.7% vs 8.3%, P = .02).Our results show that 4 out of 5 children who tested HIV+ and over 90% of ART enrolled cases were children ≥18 months. Thus, while rolling out PCR HIV testing technology for neonates and infants, committing adequate and proportionate resources in antibody rapid testing for older children is a sine quo none condition to achieve an acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-free generation.

Optimizing Differentiated HIV Treatment Models in Urban Zimbabwe: Assessing Patient Preferences Using a Discrete Choice Experiment

Differentiated service delivery holds great promise for streamlining the delivery of health services for HIV. This study used a discrete choice experiment to assess preferences for differentiated HIV treatment delivery model characteristics among 500 virally suppressed adults on antiretroviral therapy in Harare, Zimbabwe. Treatment model characteristics included location, consultation type, healthcare worker cadre, operation times, visit frequency and duration, and cost. A mixed effects logit model was used for parameter estimates to identify potential preference heterogeneity among participants, and interaction effects were estimated for sex and age as potential sources of divergence in preferences. Results indicated that participants preferred health facility-based services, less frequent visits, individual consultations, shorter waiting times, lower cost and, delivered by respectful and understanding healthcare workers. Some preference heterogeneity was found, particularly for location of service delivery and group vs. individual models; however, this was not fully explained by sex and age characteristics of participants. In urban areas, facility-based models, such as the Fast Track model requiring less frequent clinic visits, are likely to better align with patient preferences than some of the other community-based or group models that have been implemented. As Zimbabwe scales up differentiated treatment models for stable patients, a clear understanding of patient preferences can help in designing services that will ensure optimal utilization and improve the efficiency of service delivery.

Profiles of HIV Care Disruptions Among Adult Patients Lost to Follow-up in Zambia: A Latent Class Analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients report varied barriers to HIV care across multiple domains, but specific barrier patterns may be driven by underlying, but unobserved, behavioral profiles.

METHODS

We traced a probability sample of patients lost to follow-up (>90 days late) as of July 31, 2015 from 64 clinics in Zambia. Among those found alive, we ascertained patient-reported reasons for care disruptions. We performed latent class analysis to identify patient subgroups with similar patterns of reasons reported and assessed the association between class membership and care status (ie, disengaged versus silently transferred to a new site).

RESULTS

Among 547 patients, we identified 5 profiles of care disruptions: (1) "Livelihood and Mobility" (30.6% of the population) reported work/school obligations and mobility/travel as reasons for care disruptions; (2) "Clinic Accessibility" (28.9%) reported challenges with attending clinic; (3) "Mobility and Family" (21.9%) reported family obligations, mobility/travel, and transport-related reasons; (4) "Doubting Need for HIV care" (10.2%) reported uncertainty around HIV status or need for clinical care, and (5) "Multidimensional Barriers to Care" (8.3%) reported numerous (mean 5.6) reasons across multiple domains. Patient profiles were significantly associated with care status. The "Doubting Need for HIV Care" class were mostly disengaged (97.9%), followed by the "Multidimensional Barriers to Care" (62.8%), "Clinic Accessibility" (62.4%), "Livelihood and Mobility" (43.6%), and "Mobility and Family" (23.5%) classes.

CONCLUSION

There are distinct HIV care disruption profiles that are strongly associated with patients' current engagement status. Interventions targeting these unique profiles may enable more effective and tailored strategies for improving HIV treatment outcomes.

Optimizing HIV prevention and treatment outcomes for persons with substance use in Central Asia: what will it take?

Purpose of review

To summarize the status of HIV and substance use in Central Asia and discuss potential ways to move forward to effective epidemic control among people who inject drugs (PWID) in the region and beyond.

Recent findings

PWID and their partners remain the population most affected by HIV in Central Asia. Lack of effective substance use prevention and treatment options and limited involvement of PWID-led community-based organizations in HIV programs, combined with the requirement for official registration, stigma and discrimination of PWID, and criminalization of drug use remain key barriers to effective HIV prevention and treatment.

Summary

Sustainable HIV epidemic control among PWID will not be feasible without decriminalization of drug use, addressing stigma and discrimination and policy changes to enhance uptake of HIV-related prevention, treatment and support services by PWID. It is also critical to ensure adoption of innovations, particularly those that combine evidence-based biomedical, behavioral and structural interventions tailored to the needs of the PWID.

Human-Centered Design Lessons for Implementation Science: Improving the Implementation of a Patient-Centered Care Intervention

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text.

Evidence-based HIV interventions often fail to reach anticipated impact due to insufficient utilization in real-world health systems. Human-centered design (HCD) represents a novel approach in tailoring innovations to fit end-users, narrowing the gap between efficacious interventions and impact at scale.

Can Changes in Service Delivery Models Improve Program Quality and Efficiency? A Closer Look at HIV Programs in Kenya and Uganda

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text.

With the scale-up of antiretroviral treatment, many health facilities in low- and middle-income countries have implemented innovative practices targeted at overcoming operational challenges and delivering efficient quality HIV services. However, many of these practices remain largely unexplored as a means to better reach the global 90-90-90 targets.

Key Stakeholders' Perspectives on Implementation and Scale up of HIV Self-Testing in Rwanda

INTRODUCTION

The World Health Organisation recommends HIV self-testing as an alternative testing method to help reach underserved populations, such as men in sub-Saharan Africa. Successful implementation and scale-up of HIV self-testing (HIVST) in Rwanda relies heavily on relevant stakeholders' involvement. We sought to explore HIVST key stakeholders' perceptions of the implementation and scale-up of HIVST in Rwanda.

METHOD

We conducted in-depth interviews with personnel involved in HIV response projects in Rwanda between September and November 2019. We purposively sampled and interviewed 13 national-level key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, Rwanda Biomedical Center, non-governmental organizations and HIV clinics at tertiary health facilities in Kigali. We used a thematic approach to analysis with a coding framework guided by Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (intervention characteristics, inner setting, outer setting, characteristics of individuals involved in the implementation and the implementation process).

RESULTS

Key stakeholders perceived HIVST as a potentially effective initiative, which can be used in order to ensure that there is an improvement in uptake of testing services, especially for underserved populations in Rwanda. The following challenges for implementation and scale-up of HIVST were revealed: lack of awareness of the kits, high cost of the self-test kits, and concerns on results interpretation. Key stakeholders identified the following as prerequisites to the successful implementation and scale-up of HIVST in Rwanda; creation of awareness, training those involved in the implementation process, regulation of the selling of the self-test kits, reduction of the costs of acquiring the self-test kits through the provision of subsidies, and ensuring consistent availability of the self-test kits.

CONCLUSIONS

Key stakeholders expressed confidence in HIVST's ability to improve the uptake of HIV testing services. However, they reported challenges, which need to be addressed to ensure successful implementation and scale-up of the HIVST. There is a need for further research incorporating lower level stakeholders to fully understand HIVST implementation and scale-up challenges and strategies to inform policy.

HIV self-testing in Rwanda: awareness and acceptability among male clinic attendees in Kigali, Rwanda: A cross-sectional survey

Background

The Rwandan Ministry of Health recently (in February 2017) recommended the use of HIV self-testing (HIVST) as an additional strategy for hard-to-reach populations such as men. However, the level of awareness and acceptability of this testing strategy among this population in Rwanda is not known. The main objective of this study is to assess the level of awareness and acceptability of HIVST among male clinic attendees in Kigali, Rwanda.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was employed to systematically sample and interview 579 male health-facility attendees over a seven-week period. We employed a pretested interviewer questionnaire to collect data. The chi-square test was used to determine associations between explanatory variables. Univariate binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to obtain preliminary insight into the unconditional association of each independent variable and dependent variables (awareness and acceptability). Multiple logistic regression was employed to determine explanatory variables associated with awareness or acceptability status while adjusting for other study variables. All statistical analyses were performed using Stata version 11.2.

Results

Of the 579 men interviewed, only 21% were aware of HIVST, while 74% found it acceptable. Logistic regression analysis identified the following as factors significantly (p < 0.05) associated with HIVST awareness: having paid or received money for sex in the past month, health-seeking behavior, HIVST knowledge, HIVST attitude, and HIV risk perception. Factors associated with HIVST acceptability include the following: health-seeking behavior, HIVST knowledge, HIVST attitude, and condom use after taking drugs and alcohol.

Conclusion

The findings reveal low awareness and high acceptability of HIVST among men in Rwanda. Our findings accentuate the need to promote awareness of HIVST as an important intervention for improving the uptake of HIV testing among men, a traditionally hard-to-reach population in Rwanda.

Differentiated service delivery: navigating the path to scale

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Differentiated service delivery (DSD) has emerged as an approach for HIV programs seeking to better serve the needs of people living with HIV, reduce unnecessary burdens on the health system, and improve client outcomes. We reviewed recent evidence that addresses the challenge of DSD scale-up.

RECENT FINDINGS

Most current evidence focuses on treatment of clinically stable adult clients in high HIV prevalence settings. Nonetheless, a growing body of research is emerging on how the concept of differentiation is being applied to HIV testing, linkage, and initiation; service delivery to specific demographic groups including key populations - MSM, people who inject drugs, people in prisons, sex workers, and transgender people; service delivery to adolescents and pregnant women; and impact on related medical conditions like advanced HIV. There is also an increasing emphasis on measuring client experience. Key barriers to scale-up include the capacity of monitoring and evaluation systems, access to viral load monitoring and funding for community-led demand generation efforts. Another barrier is the lack of sufficient data to evaluate the various manifestations of the DSD model.

SUMMARY

Emerging evidence is providing welcome nuance to the discourse on the concept of DSD for HIV. The challenge will be taking evolving DSD concepts from pilot to scale. Countries must review their particular context, define the expected needs of their clients in different settings, introduce appropriate models - and be willing to adjust programming based on quantitative and qualitative outcomes.

Optimizing differentiated treatment models for people living with HIV in urban Zimbabwe: Findings from a mixed methods study

INTRODUCTION

Zimbabwe is scaling up HIV differentiated service delivery (DSD) to improve treatment outcomes and health system efficiencies. Shifting stable patients into less-intensive DSD models is a high priority in order to accommodate the large numbers of newly-diagnosed people living with HIV (PLHIV) needing treatment and to provide healthcare workers with the time and space needed to treat people with advanced HIV disease. DSD is also seen as a way to improve service quality and enhance retention in care. National guidelines support five differentiated antiretroviral treatment models (DART) for stable HIV-positive adults, but little is known about patient preferences, a critical element needed to guide DART scale-up and ensure person-centered care. We designed a mixed-methods study to explore treatment preferences of PLHIV in urban Zimbabwe.

METHODS

The study was conducted in Harare, and included 35 health care worker (HCW) key informant interviews (KII); 8 focus group discussions (FGD) with 54 PLHIV; a discrete choice experiment (DCE) in which 500 adult DART-eligible PLHIV selected their preferences for health facility (HF) vs. community location, individual vs. group meetings, provider cadre and attitude, clinic operation times, visit frequency, visit duration and cost to patient; and a survey with the 500 DCE participants exploring DART knowledge and preferences.

RESULTS

Patient preferences were consistent in the FGDs, DCE and survey. Participants strongly preferred respectful HCWs, HF-based services, individual DART models, and less costly services. Patients also preferred less frequent visits and shorter wait times. They were indifferent to variations in HCW cadre and distances from home to HF. These preferences were mostly homogenous, with only minor differences between male vs. female and older vs. younger patients. HCWs in the KII correctly characterized facility-based individual models as the one most favored by patients; HCWs also preferred this model, which they felt decongested HFs and reduced their workload.

CONCLUSIONS

DART-eligible PLHIV in Harare found it relatively easy to access HFs, and preferred attributes associated with facility-based individual models. Prioritizing these for scale-up in urban areas may be the most efficient way to sustain positive patient outcomes and increase health system performance.

The Case For Family-Centered Differentiated Service Delivery for HIV

Differentiated care, or differentiated service delivery (DSD), is increasingly being promoted as one of the possible ways to address and improve access, quality, and efficiency of HIV prevention, care, and treatment. Family-centered care has long been promoted within the provision of HIV services, but the full benefits have not necessarily been realized. In this article, we bring together these two approaches and make the case for how family-centered DSD can offer benefits to both people affected by HIV and the health system. Family-centered DSD approaches are presented for HIV testing and antiretroviral therapy (ART) delivery, referencing policies, best practice examples, and evidence from the field. With differentiated family-centered ART delivery, the potential efficiencies gained by extending ART refills can both benefit clients by reducing the frequency and intensity of contact with the health service and lead to health system gains by not requiring multiple providers to care for one family. A family-centered DSD approach should also be leveraged along the HIV care cascade in the provision of prevention technologies and mobilizing family members to receive regular HIV testing. Furthermore, a family-centered lens should be applied wherever DSD is implemented to ensure that, for example, adolescents who are pregnant receive an adapted package of quality care.

Engaging men in HIV programmes: a qualitative study of male engagement in community-based antiretroviral refill groups in Zimbabwe

INTRODUCTION

Suboptimal male engagement in HIV programmes is a persistent challenge, leading to lower coverage of HIV testing, prevention and treatment services, and to worse outcomes for men. Differentiated service delivery models, such as peer-led community antiretroviral refill groups (CARGs), offer the opportunity to enhance patient satisfaction, retention and treatment outcomes. We conducted an exploratory qualitative study to identify facilitators and barriers to CARG participation by HIV-positive men, with inputs from recipients of HIV care, community members, healthcare workers (HCWs), donors and policymakers.

METHODS

Between July and October 2017, we conducted 20 focus group discussions (FGDs) with 147 adults living with HIV, including men and women enrolled in CARGs and men not enrolled in CARGs, and 46 key informant interviews (KIIs) with policymakers, donors, HCWs and community members. FGDs and KIIs were recorded, transcribed and translated. A constant comparison approach was used to triangulate findings and identify themes related to male engagement in CARGs in rural Zimbabwe.

RESULTS

CARG participants, policymakers, donors, HCWs, and community members noted many advantages to CARG participation, including convenience, efficiency, solidarity and mutual psychosocial support. Although those familiar with CARGs reported that these groups decreased HIV-related stigma, concerns about stigma and privacy were perceived to be the primary reason for men's non-participation. Other important barriers to male enrolment included lack of awareness of CARGs, misunderstanding of how CARGs operate, few perceived benefits and lack of flexibility in CARG implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

More effective educational and awareness campaigns, community-based anti-stigma campaigns, more flexible CARG designs, and provision of financial and/or in-kind support to CARG members could mitigate many of the barriers to male enrolment in CARGs. Men may also prefer alternative differentiated service delivery models that are facility-based and/or do not require group participation.

Research priorities to inform "Treat All" policy implementation for people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: a consensus statement from the International epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA)

INTRODUCTION

"Treat All" - the treatment of all people with HIV, irrespective of disease stage or CD4 cell count - represents a paradigm shift in HIV care that has the potential to end AIDS as a public health threat. With accelerating implementation of Treat All in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), there is a need for a focused agenda and research to identify and inform strategies for promoting timely uptake of HIV treatment, retention in care, and sustained viral suppression and addressing bottlenecks impeding implementation.

METHODS

The Delphi approach was used to develop consensus around research priorities for Treat All implementation in SSA. Through an iterative process (June 2017 to March 2018), a set of research priorities was collectively formulated and refined by a technical working group and shared for review, deliberation and prioritization by more than 200 researchers, implementation experts, policy/decision-makers, and HIV community representatives in East, Central, Southern and West Africa.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The process resulted in a list of nine research priorities for generating evidence to guide Treat All policies, implementation strategies and monitoring efforts. These priorities highlight the need for increased focus on adolescents, men, and those with mental health and substance use disorders - groups that remain underserved in SSA and for whom more effective testing, linkage and care strategies need to be identified. The priorities also reflect consensus on the need to: (1) generate accurate national and sub-national estimates of the size of key populations and describe those who remain underserved along the HIV-care continuum; (2) characterize the timeliness of HIV care and short- and long-term HIV care continuum outcomes, as well as factors influencing timely achievement of these outcomes; (3) estimate the incidence and prevalence of HIV-drug resistance and regimen switching; and (4) identify cost-effective and affordable service delivery models and strategies to optimize uptake and minimize gaps, disparities, and losses along the HIV-care continuum, particularly among underserved populations.

CONCLUSIONS

Reflecting consensus among a broad group of experts, researchers, policy- and decision-makers, PLWH, and other stakeholders, the resulting research priorities highlight important evidence gaps that are relevant for ministries of health, funders, normative bodies and research networks.

The end of HIV: Still a very long way to go, but progress continues

In an Editorial accompanying PLOS Medicine's Special Issue on Advances in Prevention, Treatment and Cure of HIV/AIDS, Guest Editors Steven Deeks, Sharon Lewin, and Linda-Gail Bekker discuss priorities in the field and the content of the issue.

Closing the gaps in the HIV care continuum

In a Perspective, Ruanne Barnabas and Connie Celum discuss the implications of the accompanying Link4Health and Engage4Health studies for HIV care in sub-Saharan Africa.