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Yohannes NT, Jenkins CA, Clouse K, Cortés CP, Mejía Cordero F, Padgett D, Rouzier V, Friedman RK, McGowan CC, Shepherd BE, Rebeiro PF. Timing of HIV diagnosis relative to pregnancy and postpartum HIV care continuum outcomes among Latin American women, 2000 to 2017. J Int AIDS Soc 2021; 24:e25740. [PMID: 34021715 PMCID: PMC8140191 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.25740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV incidence among women of reproductive age and vertical HIV transmission rates remain high in Latin America. We, therefore, quantified HIV care continuum barriers and outcomes among pregnant women living with HIV (WLWH) in Latin America. METHODS WLWH (aged ≥16 years) enrolling at Caribbean, Central and South America network for HIV epidemiology (CCASAnet) sites from 2000 to 2017 who had HIV diagnosis, pregnancy and delivery dates contributed. Logistic regression produced adjusted odds ratios (aOR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for retention in care (≥2 visits ≥3 months apart) and virological suppression (viral load <200 copies/mL) 12 months after pregnancy outcome. Cumulative incidences of loss to follow-up (LTFU) postpartum were estimated using Cox regression. Evidence of HIV status at pregnancy confirmation was the exposure. Covariates included pregnancy outcome (born alive vs. others); AIDS diagnosis prior to delivery; CD4, age, HIV-1 RNA and cART regimen at first delivery and CCASAnet country. RESULTS Among 579 WLWH, median postpartum follow-up was 4.34 years (IQR 1.91, 7.35); 459 (79%) were HIV-diagnosed before pregnancy confirmation, 445 (77%) retained in care and 259 (45%) virologically suppressed at 12 months of postpartum. Cumulative incidence of LTFU was 21% by 12 months and 40% by five years postpartum. Those HIV-diagnosed during pregnancy had lower odds of retention (aOR = 0.58, 95% CI: 0.35 to 0.97) and virological suppression (aOR = 0.50, 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.82) versus those HIV-diagnosed before. CONCLUSION HIV diagnosis during pregnancy was associated with poorer 12-month retention and virological suppression. Young women should be tested and linked to HIV care earlier to narrow these disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cathy A Jenkins
- Department of BiostatisticsVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTNUSA
| | - Kate Clouse
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTNUSA
- Vanderbilt University School of NursingNashvilleTNUSA
| | | | - Fernando Mejía Cordero
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical Alexander von HumboldtUniversidad Peruana Cayetano HerediaLimaPeru
| | - Denis Padgett
- Instituto Hondureño de Seguridad Social & Hospital Escuela UniversitarioTegucigalpaHonduras
| | - Vanessa Rouzier
- Groupe Haitien d'Etudes du Sarcome de Kaposi et des Infections OpportunistesPort‐au‐PrinceHaiti
| | - Ruth K Friedman
- Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas (INI)Fundação Oswaldo CruzRio de JaneiroBrazil
| | - Catherine C McGowan
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTNUSA
| | - Bryan E Shepherd
- Department of BiostatisticsVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTNUSA
| | - Peter F Rebeiro
- Department of BiostatisticsVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTNUSA
- Division of Infectious DiseasesDepartment of MedicineVanderbilt University Medical CenterNashvilleTNUSA
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Lopez-Varela E, Augusto O, Fuente-Soro L, Sacoor C, Nhacolo A, Casavant I, Karajeanes E, Vaz P, Naniche D. Quantifying the gender gap in the HIV care cascade in southern Mozambique: We are missing the men. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0245461. [PMID: 33577559 PMCID: PMC7880488 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV-infected men have higher rates of delayed diagnosis, reduced antiretroviral treatment (ART) retention and mortality than women. We aimed to assess, by gender, the first two UNAIDS 90 targets in rural southern Mozambique. METHODS This analysis was embedded in a larger prospective cohort enrolling individuals with new HIV diagnosis between May 2014-June 2015 from clinic and home-based testing (HBT). We assessed gender differences between steps of the HIV-cascade. Adjusted HIV-community prevalence was estimated using multiple imputation (MI). RESULTS Among 11,773 adults randomized in HBT (7084 female and 4689 male), the response rate before HIV testing was 48.7% among eligible men and 62.0% among women (p<0.001). MI did not significantly modify all-age HIV-prevalence for men but did decrease prevalence estimates in women from 36.4%to 33.0%. Estimated proportion of HIV-infected individuals aware of their status was 75.9% for men and 88.9% for women. In individuals <25 years, we observed up to 22.2% disparity in awareness of serostatus between genders. Among individuals eligible for ART, similar proportions of men and women initiated treatment (81.2% and 85.9%, respectively). Fourfold more men than womenwere in WHO stage III/IV AIDS at first clinical visit. Once on ART, men had a twofold higher 18-month loss to follow-up rate than women. CONCLUSION The contribution of missing HIV-serostatus data differentially impacted indicators of HIV prevalence and of achievement of UNAIDS targets by age and gender and men were missing long before the second 90. Increased efforts to characterize missing men and their needs will and their needs will allow us to urgently address the barriers to men accessing care and ensure men are not left behind in the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets achievement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Lopez-Varela
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
- ISGlobal, Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Orvalho Augusto
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
- Facultade de Medicina, Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Laura Fuente-Soro
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
- ISGlobal, Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Charfudin Sacoor
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Ariel Nhacolo
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
| | | | | | - Paula Vaz
- Fundação Ariel Glaser Contra o SIDA Pediátrico, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Denise Naniche
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
- ISGlobal, Instituto de Salud Global de Barcelona, Hospital Clínic—Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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Auld AF, Fielding K, Agizew T, Maida A, Mathoma A, Boyd R, Date A, Pals SL, Bicego G, Liu Y, Shiraishi RW, Ehrenkranz P, Serumola C, Mathebula U, Alexander H, Charalambous S, Emerson C, Rankgoane-Pono G, Pono P, Finlay A, Shepherd JC, Holmes C, Ellerbrock TV, Grant AD. Risk scores for predicting early antiretroviral therapy mortality in sub-Saharan Africa to inform who needs intensification of care: a derivation and external validation cohort study. BMC Med 2020; 18:311. [PMID: 33161899 PMCID: PMC7650165 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-020-01775-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clinical scores to determine early (6-month) antiretroviral therapy (ART) mortality risk have not been developed for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), home to 70% of people living with HIV. In the absence of validated scores, WHO eligibility criteria (EC) for ART care intensification are CD4 < 200/μL or WHO stage III/IV. METHODS We used Botswana XPRES trial data for adult ART enrollees to develop CD4-independent and CD4-dependent multivariable prognostic models for 6-month mortality. Scores were derived by rescaling coefficients. Scores were developed using the first 50% of XPRES ART enrollees, and their accuracy validated internally and externally using South African TB Fast Track (TBFT) trial data. Predictive accuracy was compared between scores and WHO EC. RESULTS Among 5553 XPRES enrollees, 2838 were included in the derivation dataset; 68% were female and 83 (3%) died by 6 months. Among 1077 TBFT ART enrollees, 55% were female and 6% died by 6 months. Factors predictive of 6-month mortality in the derivation dataset at p < 0.01 and selected for the CD4-independent score included male gender (2 points), ≥ 1 WHO tuberculosis symptom (2 points), WHO stage III/IV (2 points), severe anemia (hemoglobin < 8 g/dL) (3 points), and temperature > 37.5 °C (2 points). The same variables plus CD4 < 200/μL (1 point) were included in the CD4-dependent score. Among XPRES enrollees, a CD4-independent score of ≥ 4 would provide 86% sensitivity and 66% specificity, whereas WHO EC would provide 83% sensitivity and 58% specificity. If WHO stage alone was used, sensitivity was 48% and specificity 89%. Among TBFT enrollees, the CD4-independent score of ≥ 4 would provide 95% sensitivity and 27% specificity, whereas WHO EC would provide 100% sensitivity but 0% specificity. Accuracy was similar between CD4-independent and CD4-dependent scores. Categorizing CD4-independent scores into low (< 4), moderate (4-6), and high risk (≥ 7) gave 6-month mortality of 1%, 4%, and 17% for XPRES and 1%, 5%, and 30% for TBFT enrollees. CONCLUSIONS Sensitivity of the CD4-independent score was nearly twice that of WHO stage in predicting 6-month mortality and could be used in settings lacking CD4 testing to inform ART care intensification. The CD4-dependent score improved specificity versus WHO EC. Both scores should be considered for scale-up in SSA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew F Auld
- Division of Global HIV & TB, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nico House, City Centre, P.O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi.
| | - Katherine Fielding
- TB Centre, London Sch. of Hygiene & Tropical Med, London, UK.,School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Tefera Agizew
- Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Alice Maida
- Division of Global HIV & TB, United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nico House, City Centre, P.O. Box 30016, Lilongwe 3, Malawi
| | - Anikie Mathoma
- Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Rosanna Boyd
- Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Anand Date
- Division of Global HIV & TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Sherri L Pals
- Division of Global HIV & TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - George Bicego
- Division of Global HIV & TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yuliang Liu
- Division of Global HIV & TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Ray W Shiraishi
- Division of Global HIV & TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Christopher Serumola
- Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Unami Mathebula
- Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Heather Alexander
- Division of Global HIV & TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Courtney Emerson
- Division of Global HIV & TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | | | - Pontsho Pono
- Ministry of Health and Wellness, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Alyssa Finlay
- Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - James C Shepherd
- Division of TB Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Gaborone, Botswana.,Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Charles Holmes
- Center for Global Health Practice and Impact, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington D.C, USA
| | - Tedd V Ellerbrock
- Division of Global HIV & TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Alison D Grant
- TB Centre, London Sch. of Hygiene & Tropical Med, London, UK.,School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa.,Africa Health Research Institute, School of Nursing and Public Heath, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
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Livesley N, Coly A, Karamagi E, Nsubuga-Nyombi T, Mwita SK, Ngonyani MM, Mvungi J, Kinyua K, Muange P, Ismail A, Quick T, Stern A. Reducing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Using Quality Improvement Approaches. J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care 2020; 18:2325958219855631. [PMID: 31213119 PMCID: PMC6748455 DOI: 10.1177/2325958219855631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Over half of mother-to-child HIV transmission (MTCT) occurs postdelivery. Keeping mother-infant pairs in care remains challenging. Health workers in 3 countries used quality improvement (QI) approaches to improve data systems, mother-infant retention, and facility-based care delivery. The number and proportion of infants with known HIV status at time of discharge from early infant diagnosis programs increased in Tanzania and Uganda. We analyzed data using statistical process control charts. Mother-to-child HIV transmission did not decrease in 15 Kenyan sites, decreased from 12.7% to 3.8% in 28 Tanzanian sites, and decreased from 17.2% to 1.5% in 10 Ugandan sites with baseline data. This improvement is likely due to the combination of option B+, service delivery improvements, and retention through QI approaches. Reaching the global MTCT elimination target and maximizing infant survival will require health systems to support mother-infant pairs to remain in care and support health workers to deliver care. Quality improvement approaches can support these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nigel Livesley
- 1 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, University Research Co, LLC (URC), Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Astou Coly
- 1 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, University Research Co, LLC (URC), Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Esther Karamagi
- 2 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, University Research Co, LLC (URC), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Tamara Nsubuga-Nyombi
- 2 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, University Research Co, LLC (URC), Kampala, Uganda
| | - Stella Kasindi Mwita
- 3 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, University Research Co, LLC (URC), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Monica M Ngonyani
- 3 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, University Research Co, LLC (URC), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Jane Mvungi
- 3 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, University Research Co, LLC (URC), Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Kevin Kinyua
- 4 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, University Research Co, LLC (URC), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Prisca Muange
- 4 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, University Research Co, LLC (URC), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anisa Ismail
- 1 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, University Research Co, LLC (URC), Chevy Chase, MD, USA
| | - Timothy Quick
- 5 US Agency for International Development Office of HIV/AIDS, Bureau for Global Health, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Amy Stern
- 1 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Applying Science to Strengthen and Improve Systems (ASSIST) Project, University Research Co, LLC (URC), Chevy Chase, MD, USA
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Continuum of HIV Care in Rural Mozambique: The Implications of HIV Testing Modality on Linkage and Retention. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2019; 78:527-535. [PMID: 29771786 PMCID: PMC6075879 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text. Introduction: Context-specific improvements in the continuum of HIV care are needed to achieve the UNAIDS target of 90-90-90. This study aimed to assess the linkage to and retention in HIV care according to different testing modalities in rural southern Mozambique. Methods: Adults newly diagnosed with HIV from voluntary counseling and testing, provider-initiated counseling and testing, and home-based HIV testing services were prospectively enrolled between 2014 and 2015 at the Manhiça District. Patients were passively followed up through chart examination. Tracing was performed at 12 months to ascertain causes of loss to follow-up. Fine and Gray competing risk analysis was performed to determine factors associated with the each step of the cascade. Results: Overall linkage to care as defined by having a CD4 count at 3 months was 43.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 40.8 to 46.6] and 25.2% of all participants initiated antiretroviral therapy. Factors associated with increased linkage in multivariable analysis included testing at voluntary counseling and testing, older age, having been previously tested for HIV, owning a cell phone, presenting with WHO clinical stages III/IV, self-reported illness-associated disability in the previous month, and later calendar month of participant recruitment. Ascertaining deaths and transfers allowed for adjustment of the rate of 12-month retention in treatment from 75.6% (95% CI: 70.2 to 80.5) to 84.2% (95% CI: 79.2 to 88.5). Conclusions: Home-based HIV testing reached a sociodemographically distinct population from that of clinic-based testing modalities but low linkage to care points to a need for facilitated linkage interventions. Distinguishing between true treatment defaulting and other causes of loss to follow-up can significantly change indicators of retention in care.
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Barriers and facilitators to the uptake of Test and Treat in Mozambique: A qualitative study on patient and provider perceptions. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0205919. [PMID: 30586354 PMCID: PMC6306230 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0205919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 10/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In mid-2016, Mozambique began phased implementation of the ‘Test-and-Treat’ policy, which enrolls HIV positive clients into antiretroviral treatment (ART) immediately regardless of CD4 cell count or disease stage. Novel insights into barriers and facilitators to ART initiation among healthy clients are needed to improve implementation of Test and Treat. Methods and findings A cross-sectional qualitative study was conducted across 10 health facilities in Mozambique. In-depth interviews (IDIs) were conducted with HIV-positive clients (60 who initiated/20 who did not initiate ART within Test and Treat) and 9 focus group discussion (FGDs) were conducted with health care workers (HCWs; n = 53). Data were analyzed using deductive and inductive analysis strategies. Barriers to ART initiation included: (1) feeling ‘healthy’; (2) not prepared to start ART for life; (3) concerns about ART side effects; (4) fear of HIV disclosure and discrimination; (5) poor interactions with HCWs; (6) limited privacy at health facilities; and (7) perceptions of long wait times. Facilitators included the motivation to stay healthy and to take care of dependents, as well as new models of ART services such as adaptation of counseling to clients’ specific needs, efficient patient flow, and integrated HIV/primary care services. Conclusions ART initiation may be difficult for healthy clients in the context of Test-and-Treat. Specific strategies to engage this population are needed. Strategies could include targeted support for clients, community sensitization on the benefits of early ART initiation, client-centered approaches to patient care, and improved efficiency through multi-month scripting and increased workforce.
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Mecha JO, Kubo EN, Nganga LW, Muiruri PN, Njagi LN, Ilovi S, Ngethe R, Mutisya I, Ngugi EW, Maleche-Obimbo E. Trends, treatment outcomes, and determinants for attrition among adult patients in care at a large tertiary HIV clinic in Nairobi, Kenya: a 2004-2015 retrospective cohort study. HIV AIDS (Auckl) 2018; 10:103-114. [PMID: 29988689 PMCID: PMC6029585 DOI: 10.2147/hiv.s153185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding trends in patient profiles and identifying predictors for adverse outcomes are key to improving the effectiveness of HIV care and treatment programs. Previous work in Kenya has documented findings from a rural setting. This paper describes trends in demographic and clinical characteristics of antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment cohorts at a large urban, referral HIV clinic and explores treatment outcomes and factors associated with attrition during 12 years of follow-up. Methods This was a retrospective cohort analysis of HIV-infected adults who started ART between January 1, 2004, and September 30, 2015. ART-experienced patients and those with missing data were excluded. The Cochran–Armitage test was used to determine trends in baseline characteristics over time. Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine the effect of baseline characteristics on attrition. Results ART uptake among older adolescents (15–19 years), youth, and young adults increased over time (p=0.0001). Independent predictors for attrition included (adjusted hazard ratio [95% CI]) male sex: 1.30 (1.16–1.45), p=0.0001; age: 15–19 years: 1.83 (1.26–2.66), p=0.0014; 20–24 years: 1.93 (1.52–2.44), p=0.0001; and 25–29 years: 1.31 (1.11–1.54), p=0.0012; marital status – single: 1.27 (1.11–1.44), p=0.0005; and divorced/separated: 1.56 (1.30–1.87), p=0.0001; urban residence: 1.40 (1.20–1.64), p=0.0001; entry into HIV care following hospitalization: 1.31 (1.10–1.57), p=0.0026, or transfer from another facility: 1.60 (1.26–2.04), p=0.0001; initiation of ART more than 12 months after the date of HIV diagnosis: 1.36 (1.19–1.55), p=0.0001, and history of a current or past opportunistic infection (OI): 1.15 (1.02–1.30), p=0.0284. Conclusion Although ART uptake among adolescents and young people increased over time, this group was at increased risk for attrition. Single marital status, urban residence, history of hospitalization or OI, and delayed initiation of ART also predicted attrition. This calls for focused evidence-informed strategies to address attrition and improve outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jared O Mecha
- Department of Clinical Medicine & Therapeutics, University of Nairobi School of Medicine, Nairobi, Kenya,
| | - Elizabeth N Kubo
- Department of Clinical Medicine & Therapeutics, University of Nairobi School of Medicine, Nairobi, Kenya,
| | | | | | - Lilian N Njagi
- Department of Clinical Medicine & Therapeutics, University of Nairobi School of Medicine, Nairobi, Kenya,
| | - Syokau Ilovi
- Department of Clinical Medicine & Therapeutics, University of Nairobi School of Medicine, Nairobi, Kenya,
| | | | - Immaculate Mutisya
- Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Evelyn W Ngugi
- Division of Global HIV and TB (DGHT), US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Elizabeth Maleche-Obimbo
- Department of Clinical Medicine & Therapeutics, University of Nairobi School of Medicine, Nairobi, Kenya,
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Validity of reported retention in antiretroviral therapy after roll-out to peripheral facilities in Mozambique: Results of a retrospective national cohort analysis. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198916. [PMID: 29927961 PMCID: PMC6013210 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Retention in anti-retroviral therapy (ART) presents a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. In Mozambique, after roll-out to peripheral facilities, the 12-month retention rate was reported mostly from sites with an electronic patient tracking system (EPTS), representing only 65% of patients. We conducted a nationally representative study, compared 12-month retention at EPTS and non-EPTS sites, and its predictors. Methods Applying a proportionate to population size sampling strategy, we obtained a nationally representative sample of patients who initiated ART between January 2013 and June 2014. We calculated weighted proportions of the patients’ status at 12 months after ART initiation, and 12-month incidence of lost to follow-up (LTFU) and death. We assessed determinants of LTFU and death by calculating adjusted hazard ratios (AHR) through multivariate cox-proportional hazard models. Results Among 19,297 patients sampled, 54.3% were still active, 33.1% LTFU, 2.0% dead, 2.6% transferred-out and 8.0% had unknown status, 12 months after ART initiation. Total attrition rate (LTFU or dead) was 45.5/100PY, higher at facilities without EPTS (51.8/100PY) than with EPTS (37.7/100PY). Clinical stage IV (AHR = 1.7), CD4 count ≤150 (AHR = 1.3) and being pregnant (AHR = 1.6) were significantly associated with LTFU. Clinical stage III or IV (AHR = 2.1 and 3.8), CD4 count ≤150 (AHR = 3.0), not being pregnant (AHR = 3.0), and ART regimens with stavudine (AHR = 4.28) were significantly associated with deaths. Patients enrolled in adherence support groups were 4.6 times less likely to be LTFU, but the number (n = 174) was too small to be significant (p = 0.273). Conclusion Retention in ART was substantially lower at non-EPTS sites. EPTS should be expanded to all ART sites to facilitate comprehensive routine monitoring of retention in care. Retention in Mozambique is low and needs to be improved, especially among pregnant women and patients with advanced disease at ART initiation. The effect of ART adherence support groups needs to be further monitored.
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Ross J, Edmonds A, Hoover DR, Shi Q, Anastos K, Lelo P, Behets F, Yotebieng M. Association between pregnancy at enrollment into HIV care and loss to care among women in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 2006-2013. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0195231. [PMID: 29608618 PMCID: PMC5880386 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0195231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 03/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Loss to care is high among asymptomatic HIV-infected women initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy or in the postpartum period. However, whether pregnancy itself plays a role in the high loss to care rate is uncertain. We compared loss to care over seven years between pregnant and non-pregnant women at enrollment into HIV care in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of all ART-naive women aged 15–45 initiating HIV care at two large clinics in Kinshasa, DRC, from 2007–2013. Pregnancy status was recorded at care enrollment. Patients were classified as having no follow-up if they did not return to care after the initial enrollment visit. Among those with at least one follow-up visit after enrollment, we classified patients as lost to care if more than 365 days had passed since their last clinic visit. We used logistic regression to model the association between pregnancy status and no follow-up, and Cox proportional hazards regression to model the association between pregnancy status and time to loss to care. Results Of 2175 women included in the analysis, 1497 (68.8%) were pregnant at enrollment. Compared to non-pregnant women, pregnant women were less likely to be over 35 years of age (19.1% vs. 31.9%, p<0.0001) and less likely to be in WHO stage III or IV (9.0% vs. 26.3%, p<0.0001). Among pregnant women, 106 (7.1%) were not seen after enrollment, versus 25 (3.7%) non-pregnant women (adjusted odds ratio 2.01, 95% CI 1.24–3.24). Of the 2,044 women with at least one follow-up visit, 46.5% of pregnant women and 46.7% of non-pregnant women were lost to care by 5 years; hazards of loss to care were similar for pregnant and non-pregnant women (adjusted hazard ratio 1.08, 95% CI 0.93–1.26). Conclusions In this large cohort of HIV-infected women, patients pregnant at care enrollment were more likely to never return for follow-up. Among those who attended at least one follow-up visit, loss to care was not different between pregnant and non-pregnant women, suggesting that pregnancy itself may not be the main driver of the high attrition observed in this cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Ross
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Andrew Edmonds
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Donald R. Hoover
- Department of Statistics and Biostatistics, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ, United States of America
| | - Qiuhu Shi
- Department of Epidemiology and Community Health, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States of America
| | - Kathryn Anastos
- Department of Medicine, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, Albert Einstein College of Medicine / Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx, NY, United States of America
| | - Patricia Lelo
- Kalembelembe Pediatric Hospital, Kinshasa, The Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Frieda Behets
- Department of Epidemiology, Gillings School of Global Public Health, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America
| | - Marcel Yotebieng
- College of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, United States of America
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Rebeiro PF, Bakoyannis G, Musick BS, Braithwaite RS, Wools-Kaloustian KK, Nyandiko W, Some F, Braitstein P, Yiannoutsos CT. Observational Study of the Effect of Patient Outreach on Return to Care: The Earlier the Better. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2017; 76:141-148. [PMID: 28604501 PMCID: PMC5597469 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The burden of HIV remains heaviest in resource-limited settings, where problems of losses to care, silent transfers, gaps in care, and incomplete mortality ascertainment have been recognized. METHODS Patients in care at Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare (AMPATH) clinics from 2001-2011 were included in this retrospective observational study. Patients missing an appointment were traced by trained staff; those found alive were counseled to return to care (RTC). Relative hazards of RTC were estimated among those having a true gap: missing a clinic appointment and confirmed as neither dead nor receiving care elsewhere. Sample-based multiple imputation accounted for missing vital status. RESULTS Among 34,522 patients lost to clinic, 15,331 (44.4%) had a true gap per outreach, 2754 (8.0%) were deceased, and 837 (2.4%) had documented transfers. Of 15,600 (45.2%) remaining without active ascertainment, 8762 (56.2%) with later RTC were assumed to have a true gap. Adjusted cause-specific hazard ratios (aHRs) showed early outreach (a ≤8-day window, defined by grid-search approach) had twice the hazard for RTC vs. those without (aHR = 2.06; P < 0.001). HRs for RTC were lower the later the outreach effort after disengagement (aHR = 0.86 per unit increase in time; P < 0.001). Older age, female sex (vs. male), antiretroviral therapy use (vs. none), and HIV status disclosure (vs. none) were also associated with greater likelihood of RTC, and higher enrollment CD4 count with lower likelihood of RTC. CONCLUSION Patient outreach efforts have a positive impact on patient RTC, regardless of when undertaken, but particularly soon after the patient misses an appointment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Giorgos Bakoyannis
- Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | | | - Ronald S. Braithwaite
- New York University School of Medicine, New York City, NY, USA
- Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya
| | | | | | - Fatma Some
- Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Paula Braitstein
- Indiana University Fairbanks School of Public Health, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Moi University School of Medicine, Eldoret, Kenya
- University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
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SMSaúde: Evaluating Mobile Phone Text Reminders to Improve Retention in HIV Care for Patients on Antiretroviral Therapy in Mozambique. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2017; 73:e23-30. [PMID: 27632147 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We evaluated whether regular mobile phone text reminders improved patients' retention in antiretroviral therapy (ART) care in Mozambique. DESIGN SMSaúde was a randomized control trial of HIV-infected patients on ART who received regular text message reminder vs. standard of care at 3 public health facilities in Maputo Province, Mozambique. The primary outcome was retention in HIV care. Between November 2011 and March 2012, 830 eligible HIV-infected patients on ART were randomized 1:1 to the text reminder intervention or standard of care. METHODS We used Kaplan-Meier estimators and log-rank tests to compare proportions of patients who received SMS reminders who were retained in HIV care compared to the control group who received standard of care. Post hoc analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards models stratified by urban/rural facility and when initiated ART (≤3 months vs. >3 months). Hazard ratios and confidence intervals (CIs) are reported. Analysis was with intention to treat. RESULTS Patients who received text messages had lower attrition from HIV care at 12 months, though the difference was nonsignificant (RR: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.41 to 1.13). Among urban patients, text messages improved retention in HIV care (RR: 0.54, 95% CI: 0.31 to 0.95). Intervention patients newly initiated on ART (<3 months) had lower attrition than control patients (HR: 0.54; 95% CI: 0.23 to 0.91), especially urban newly initiated patients (HR: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.64). Text messages had no effect on retention among rural patients. CONCLUSIONS Text messages did not improve retention in HIV care for all patients on ART but improved retention in care of urban patients and those who recently started ART and received text reminders compared with standard of care.
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A Decade of Antiretroviral Therapy Scale-up in Mozambique: Evaluation of Outcome Trends and New Models of Service Delivery Among More Than 300,000 Patients Enrolled During 2004-2013. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2017; 73:e11-22. [PMID: 27454248 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000001137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During 2004-2013 in Mozambique, 455,600 HIV-positive adults (≥15 years old) initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART). We evaluated trends in patient characteristics and outcomes during 2004-2013, outcomes of universal treatment for pregnant women (Option B+) implemented since 2013, and effect on outcomes of distributing ART to stable patients through Community ART Support Groups (CASG) since 2010. METHODS Data for 306,335 adults starting ART during 2004-2013 at 170 ART facilities were analyzed. Mortality and loss to follow-up (LTFU) were estimated using competing risks models. Outcome determinants were estimated using proportional hazards models, including CASG participation as a time-varying covariate. RESULTS Compared with ART enrollees in 2004, enrollees in 2013 were more commonly female (55% vs. 73%), more commonly pregnant if female (<1% vs. 30%), and had a higher median baseline CD4 count (139 vs. 235/μL). During 2004-2013, observed 6-month mortality declined from 7% to 2% but LTFU increased from 24% to 30%. Pregnant women starting ART with CD4 count >350/μL and WHO stage I/II under Option B+ guidelines in 2013 had low 6-month mortality (0.1%) but high 6-month LTFU (38%). During 2010-2013, 6766 patients joined CASGs. In multivariable analysis, compared with nonparticipation in CASG, CASG participation was associated with 35% lower LTFU but similar mortality. CONCLUSIONS Initiation of ART at earlier disease stages in later calendar years might explain observed declines in mortality. Retention interventions are needed to address trends of increasing LTFU overall and the high LTFU among Option B+ pregnant women specifically. Further expansion of CASG could help reduce LTFU.
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Lessons learned and study results from HIVCore, an HIV implementation science initiative. J Int AIDS Soc 2016. [DOI: 10.7448/ias.19.5.21261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
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Retention of mothers and infants in the prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV programme is associated with individual and facility-level factors in Rwanda. J Int AIDS Soc 2016; 19:20837. [PMID: 27443268 PMCID: PMC4956733 DOI: 10.7448/ias.19.5.20837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2015] [Revised: 05/02/2016] [Accepted: 05/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Investigate levels of retention at specified time periods along the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) cascade among mother-infant pairs as well as individual- and facility-level factors associated with retention. Methods A retrospective cohort of HIV-positive pregnant women and their infants attending five health centres from November 2010 to February 2012 in the Option B programme in Rwanda was established. Data were collected from several health registers and patient follow-up files. Additionally, informant interviews were conducted to ascertain health facility characteristics. Generalized estimating equation methods and modelling were utilized to estimate the number of mothers attending each antenatal care visit and assess factors associated with retention. Results Data from 457 pregnant women and 462 infants were collected at five different health centres (three urban and two rural facilities). Retention at 30 days after registration and retention at 6 weeks, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months post-delivery were analyzed. Based on an analytical sample of 348, we found that 58% of women and 81% of infants were retained in care within the same health facility at 12 months post-delivery, respectively. However, for mother-infant paired mothers, retention at 12 months was 74% and 79% for their infants. Loss to facility occurred early, with 26% to 33% being lost within 30 days post-registration. In a multivariable model retention was associated with being married, adjusted relative risk (ARR): 1.26, (95% confidence intervals: 1.11, 1.43); antiretroviral therapy eligible, ARR: 1.39, (1.12, 1.73) and CD4 count per 50 mm3, ARR: 1.02, (1.01, 1.03). Conclusions These findings demonstrate varying retention levels among mother-infant pairs along the PMTCT cascade in addition to potential determinants of retention to such programmes. Unmarried, apparently healthy, HIV-positive pregnant women need additional support for programme retention. With the significantly increased workload resulting from lifelong antiretroviral treatment for all HIV-positive pregnant women, strategies need to be developed to identify, provide support and trace these women at risk of loss to follow-up. This study provides further evidence for the need for such a targeted supportive approach.
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Tymejczyk O, Hoffman S, Kulkarni SG, Gadisa T, Lahuerta M, Remien RH, Elul B, El-Sadr W, Melaku Z, Nash D. HIV Care and Treatment Beliefs among Patients Initiating Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) in Oromia, Ethiopia. AIDS Behav 2016; 20:998-1008. [PMID: 26346333 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-015-1184-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
To better understand patient beliefs, which may influence adherence to HIV care and treatment, we examined three dimensions of beliefs among Ethiopian adults (n = 1177) initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART). Beliefs about benefits of ART/HIV clinical care were largely accurate, but few patients believed in the ability of ART to prevent sexual transmission and many thought Holy Water could cure HIV. Factors associated with lower odds of accurate beliefs included advanced HIV, lack of formal education, and Muslim religion (benefits of ART/clinical care); secondary or university education and more clinic visits (ART to prevent sexual transmission); and pregnancy and Orthodox Christian religion (Holy Water). Assessment of patient beliefs may help providers identify areas needing reinforcement. In this setting, counselors also need to stress the benefits of ART as prevention and that Holy Water should not be used to the exclusion of HIV care and ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Tymejczyk
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Urban Public Health, Hunter College, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10035, USA.
| | - Susie Hoffman
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sarah Gorrell Kulkarni
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Urban Public Health, Hunter College, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10035, USA
| | - Tsigereda Gadisa
- ICAP-Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Maria Lahuerta
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- ICAP-Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Robert H Remien
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Batya Elul
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wafaa El-Sadr
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- ICAP-Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Zenebe Melaku
- ICAP-Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA
| | - Denis Nash
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Urban Public Health, Hunter College, City University of New York, 2180 Third Avenue, New York, NY, 10035, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
- HIV Center for Clinical and Behavioral Studies, New York State Psychiatric Institute and Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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Stolka K, Iriondo-Perez J, Kiumbu M, Atibu J, Azinyue I, Akam W, Balimba A, Mfangam Molu B, Mukumbi H, Niyongabo T, Twizere C, Newman J, Hemingway-Foday J. Characteristics of antiretroviral therapy-naïve patients lost-to-care in HIV clinics in Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Burundi. AIDS Care 2016; 28:913-8. [PMID: 26855169 DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2015.1124982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART)-naïve patients are vulnerable to becoming lost-to-care (LTC) because they are not monitored as often as patients on treatment. We examined data from 19,461 HIV positive adults at 10 HIV clinics in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Cameroon, and Burundi participating in the Phase 1 International epidemiologic Databases to Evaluate AIDS Central Africa (IeDEA-CA) study. Patients were LTC if they were ART-naïve and did not return within 7 months of the end of data collection. Logistic regression was used to obtain odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk factors associated with LTC. Of 5353 ART-naïve patients, 4420 (83%) were LTC and 933 (17%) were in-care. The odds of being LTC were greatest among patients from DRC (OR = 2.16, CI: 1.64-2.84, p < .0001), males (OR = 1.39, CI: 1.15-1.69, p = .0009), and ages 18-49 (OR = 1.45, CI: 1.16-1.82, p = .001). The odds of being LTC were least among patients with a WHO Clinical Stage of 1 or 2 (OR = 0.65, CI: 0.55-0.77, p < .0001) and in a perceived concordant relationship (OR = 0.61, CI: 0.43-0.87, p < .0001). LTC patients were more likely to have characteristics associated with higher risk for HIV transmission and progression. Many entered care at advanced stages and were less likely to know their partner's serostatus. Greater efforts to retain ART-naïve patients may increase earlier initiation of ART.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Modeste Kiumbu
- b Kinshasa School of Public Health (KSPH) , Hôpital Général de Kinshasa , Kinshasa-Gombe , Democratic Republic of Congo
| | - Joseph Atibu
- b Kinshasa School of Public Health (KSPH) , Hôpital Général de Kinshasa , Kinshasa-Gombe , Democratic Republic of Congo
| | | | | | | | | | - Henri Mukumbi
- g ACS/AMO Congo , Kinshasa , Democratic Republic of Congo
| | | | | | - Jamie Newman
- a RTI International , Research Triangle Park , NC , USA
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Shankar D, Kumar AMV, Rewari B, Kumar S, Shastri S, Satyanarayana S, Ananthakrishnan R, Nagaraja SB, Devi M, Bhargava N, Das M, Zachariah R. Retention in pre-antiretroviral treatment care in a district of Karnataka, India: how well are we doing? Public Health Action 2015; 4:210-5. [PMID: 26400698 DOI: 10.5588/pha.14.0073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
SETTING Antiretroviral treatment (ART) Centre in Tumkur district of Karnataka State, India. There is no published information about pre-ART loss to follow-up from India. OBJECTIVE To assess the proportion lost to follow-up (defined as not visiting the ART Centre within 1 year of registration) and associated socio-demographic and immunological variables. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study involving a review of medical records of adult HIV-infected persons (aged ⩾15 years) registered in pre-ART care during January 2010-June 2012. RESULTS Of 3238 patients registered, 2519 (78%) were eligible for ART, while 719 (22%) were not. Four of the latter were transferred out; the remaining 715 individuals were enrolled in pre-ART care, of whom 290 (41%) were lost to follow-up. Factors associated with loss to follow-up on multivariate analysis included age group ⩾45 years, low educational level, not being married, World Health Organization Stage III or IV and rural residence. CONCLUSION About four in 10 individuals in pre-ART care were lost to follow-up within 1 year of registration. This needs urgent attention. Routine cohort analysis in the national programme should include those in pre-ART care to enable improved review, monitoring and supervision. Further qualitative research to ascertain reasons for loss to follow-up is required to design future interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Shankar
- Antiretroviral Treatment Centre (ART), District Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka, India
| | - A M V Kumar
- International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, South-East Asia Regional Office, New Delhi, India
| | - B Rewari
- National AIDS Control Organization, New Delhi, India
| | - S Kumar
- National AIDS Control Organization, New Delhi, India ; Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Bengaluru, India
| | - S Shastri
- Lady Willingdon State TB Centre, Bengaluru, India
| | - S Satyanarayana
- International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, South-East Asia Regional Office, New Delhi, India
| | - R Ananthakrishnan
- Resource Group for Education and Advocacy for Community Health (REACH), Chennai, India
| | - S B Nagaraja
- Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences & Research (PGIMSR), Bengaluru, India
| | - M Devi
- Antiretroviral Treatment Centre (ART), District Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka, India
| | - N Bhargava
- Antiretroviral Treatment Centre (ART), District Hospital, Tumkur, Karnataka, India
| | - M Das
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Operational Centre Brussels, Luxembourg
| | - R Zachariah
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Operational Centre Brussels, Luxembourg
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Gwynn RC, Fawzy A, Viho I, Wu Y, Abrams EJ, Nash D. Risk factors for loss to follow-up prior to ART initiation among patients enrolling in HIV care with CD4+ cell count ≥200 cells/μL in the multi-country MTCT-Plus Initiative. BMC Health Serv Res 2015; 15:247. [PMID: 26108273 PMCID: PMC4480451 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-015-0898-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2014] [Accepted: 05/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In resource-limited settings, many HIV-infected patients are lost to follow-up (LTF) before starting ART; risk factors among those not eligible for ART at enrollment into care are not well described. Methods We examined data from 4,278 adults (3,613 women, 665 men) enrolled in HIV care through March 2007 in the MTCT-Plus Initiative with a CD4 count ≥200 cells/mm3 and WHO stage ≤ 2 at enrollment. Patients were considered LTF if > 12 months elapsed since their last clinic visit. Gender-specific Cox regression models were used to assess LTF risk factors. Results The proportion LTF was 8.2 % at 12 months following enrollment, and was higher among women (8.4 %) than men (7.1 %). Among women, a higher risk of LTF was associated with younger age (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]15–19/30+: 2.8, 95 % CI:2.1-3.6; AHR20–24/30+:1.9, 95 % CI:1.7-2.2), higher baseline CD4 count (AHR350–499/200–349:1.5; 95 % CI:1.0-2.1; AHR500+/200–349:1.5; 95 % CI:1.0-2.0), and being pregnant at the last clinic visit (AHR:1.9, 95 % CI:1.4-2.5). Factors associated with a lower risk of LTF included, employment outside the home (AHR:0.73, 95 % CI:0.59-0.90), co-enrollment of a family/household member (AHR:0.40, 95 % CI:0.26-0.61), and living in a household with ≥4 people (AHR:0.74, 95 % CI:0.64-0.85). Among men, younger age (AHR15–19/30+: 2.1, 95 % CI:1.2-3.5 and AHR30–34/35+:1.5, 95 % CI:1.0-2.4) had a higher risk of LTF. Electricity in the home (AHR:0.61, 95 % CI:0.41-0.91) and living in a household with ≥4 people (AHR:0.58, 95 % CI:0.39-0.85) had a lower risk of LTF. Conclusions Socio-economic status and social support may be important determinants of retention in patients not yet eligible for ART. Among women of child-bearing age, strategies around sustaining HIV care during and after pregnancy require attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Charon Gwynn
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA. .,Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Ashraf Fawzy
- Department of Medicine, Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Ida Viho
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, Cote de Ivoire, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Yingfeng Wu
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Elaine J Abrams
- ICAP at Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health & College of Physicians & Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Denis Nash
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, CUNY School of Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
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Plazy M, Orne-Gliemann J, Dabis F, Dray-Spira R. Retention in care prior to antiretroviral treatment eligibility in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of the literature. BMJ Open 2015; 5:e006927. [PMID: 26109110 PMCID: PMC4479994 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-006927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed at summarising rates and factors associated with retention in HIV care prior to antiretroviral treatment (ART) eligibility in sub-Saharan Africa. DESIGN We conducted a systematic literature review (2002-2014). We searched Medline/Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science, as well as proceedings of conferences. We included all original research studies published in peer-reviewed journals, which used quantitative indicators of retention in care prior to ART eligibility. PARTICIPANTS People not yet eligible for ART. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOMES Rate of retention in HIV care prior to ART eligibility and associated factors. RESULTS 10 papers and 2 abstracts were included. Most studies were conducted in Southern and Eastern Africa between 2004 and 2011 and reported retention rates in pre-ART care up to the second CD4 measurement. Definition of retention in HIV care prior to ART eligibility differed substantially across studies. Retention rates ranged between 23% and 88% based on series ranging from 112 to 10,314 individuals; retention was higher in women, individuals aged >25 years, those with low CD4 count, high body mass index or co-infected with tuberculosis, and in settings with free cotrimoxazole use. CONCLUSIONS Retention in HIV care prior to ART eligibility in sub-Saharan Africa has been insufficiently described so far leaving major research gaps, especially regarding long-term retention rates and sociodemographic, economic, clinical and programmatic logistic determinants. The prospective follow-up of newly diagnosed individuals is required to better evaluate attrition prior to ART eligibility among HIV-infected people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mélanie Plazy
- Centre de recherche Inserm U897 Epidémiologie et Biostatistique, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Institut de Santé Publique, d'Epidémiologie et de Développement (ISPED), Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Joanna Orne-Gliemann
- Centre de recherche Inserm U897 Epidémiologie et Biostatistique, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Institut de Santé Publique, d'Epidémiologie et de Développement (ISPED), Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - François Dabis
- Centre de recherche Inserm U897 Epidémiologie et Biostatistique, Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Institut de Santé Publique, d'Epidémiologie et de Développement (ISPED), Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Rosemary Dray-Spira
- Department of Social Epidemiology, INSERM, UMR_S 1136, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, Paris, France
- Department of Social Epidemiology, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR_S 1136, Pierre Louis Institute of Epidemiology and Public Health, Paris, France
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Shaweno T, Shaweno D. When are patients lost to follow-up in pre-antiretroviral therapy care? a retrospective assessment of patients in an Ethiopian rural hospital. Infect Dis Poverty 2015; 4:27. [PMID: 26034602 PMCID: PMC4450642 DOI: 10.1186/s40249-015-0056-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Accepted: 04/20/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is concern about the increasing rates of loss to follow-up (LTFU) among pre-antiretroviral therapy (pre-ART) patients in Ethiopia. Little information is available regarding the time when pre-ART patients are lost to follow-up in the country. This study assessed the time when LTFU occurs as well as the associated factors among adults enrolled in pre-ART care in an Ethiopian rural hospital. Methods Data of all adult pre-ART patients enrolled at the Sheka Zonal Hospital between 2010 and 2013 were reviewed. Patients were considered lost to follow-up if they failed to keep scheduled appointments for more than 90 days. The Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess factors associated with time until LTFU. The Kaplan-Meier survival table was used to compare the LTFU experiences of patients, segregated by significant predictors. Results A total of 626 pre-ART patients were followed for 319.92 person-years of observation (PYOs) from enrolment to pre-ART outcomes, with an overall LTFU rate of 55.8 per 100 PYOs. A total of 178 (28.4%) pre-ART patients were lost to follow-up, 93% of which occurred within the first six months. The median follow-up time was 6.13 months. The independent predictors included: not having been started on co-trimoxazole prophylaxis (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 1.77, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12–2.79), a baseline CD4 count of or above 350 cells/mm3 (AHR = 1.87, 95%CI, 1.02–3.45), and an undisclosed HIV status (AHR = 3.04, 95%CI, 2.07–4.45). Conclusion A significant proportion of pre-ART patients is lost to follow-up. Not having been started on co-trimoxazole prophylaxis, presenting to care with a baseline CD4 cell count ≥350 cells/mm3, and an undisclosed HIV status were significant predictors of LTFU among pre-ART patients. Thus, close monitoring and tracking of patients during this period is highly recommended. Those patients with identified risk factors deserve special attention. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40249-015-0056-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamrat Shaweno
- Public Health Emergency Response Epidemiologist, African Union, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
| | - Debebe Shaweno
- School of Public and Environmental Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
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Abstract
Within Mozambique's current HIV care system, there are numerous opportunities for a person to become lost to follow-up (LTFU) prior to initiating antiretroviral therapy (pre-ART). We explored pre-ART LTFU in Zambézia province utilizing quantitative and qualitative methods. Patients were deemed LTFU if they were more than 60 days late for either a scheduled appointment or a CD4+ cell count blood draw, according to national guidelines. Among 13,968 adult patients registered for care, 211 (1.8 %) died, one transferred, 2,196 (15.7 %) initiated ART, and 9,195 (65.8 %) were LTFU during the first year. Being male, younger, less educated, and/or having no home electricity were associated with LTFU. Qualitative interviews revealed that poor clinical care, logistics and competing priorities contribute to attrition. In addition, many expressed fears of stigma and/or rejection by family or community members because they were HIV-infected. At 66 %, pre-ART LTFU in Zambézia, Mozambique is a significant problem. This study highlights characteristics of lost patients and discusses barriers requiring consideration to improve retention.
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Elul B, Lahuerta M, Abacassamo F, Lamb MR, Ahoua L, McNairy ML, Tomo M, Horowitz D, Sutton R, Mussa A, Gurr D, Jani I. A combination strategy for enhancing linkage to and retention in HIV care among adults newly diagnosed with HIV in Mozambique: study protocol for a site-randomized implementation science study. BMC Infect Dis 2014; 14:549. [PMID: 25311998 PMCID: PMC4210581 DOI: 10.1186/s12879-014-0549-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 10/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the extraordinary scale up of HIV prevention, care and treatment services in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) over the past decade, the overall effectiveness of HIV programs has been significantly hindered by high levels of attrition across the HIV care continuum. Data from "real-life" settings are needed on the effectiveness of an easy to deliver package of services that can improve overall performance of the HIV care continuum. METHODS/DESIGN We are conducting an implementation science study using a two-arm cluster site-randomized design to determine the effectiveness of a combination intervention strategy (CIS) using feasible, evidence-based, and practical interventions-including (1) point-of-care (POC) CD4 count testing, (2) accelerated antiretroviral therapy initiation for eligible individuals, and (3) SMS reminders for linkage to and retention in care-as compared to the standard of care (SOC) in Mozambique in improving linkage and retention among adults following HIV diagnosis. A pre-post intervention two-sample design is nested within the CIS arm to assess the incremental effectiveness of the CIS plus financial incentives (CIS + FI) compared to the CIS without FI on study outcomes. Randomization is done at the level of the study site, defined as a primary health facility. Five sites are included from the City of Maputo and five from Inhambane Province. Target enrollment is a total of 2,250 adults: 750 in the SOC arm, 750 in the CIS cohort of the intervention arm and 750 in the CIS + FI cohort of the intervention arm (average of 150 participants per site). Participants are followed for 12 months from time of HIV testing to ascertain a combined endpoint of linkage to care within 1 month after testing and retention in care 12 months from HIV test. Cost-effectiveness analyses of CIS compared to SOC and CIS + FI compared to CIS will also be conducted. DISCUSSION Study findings will provide evidence on the effectiveness of a CIS and the incremental effectiveness of a CIS + FI in a "real-life" service delivery system in a SSA country severely impacted by HIV. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01930084.
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Affiliation(s)
- Batya Elul
- ICAP, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
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Marrazzo JM, del Rio C, Holtgrave DR, Cohen MS, Kalichman SC, Mayer KH, Montaner JSG, Wheeler DP, Grant RM, Grinsztejn B, Kumarasamy N, Shoptaw S, Walensky RP, Dabis F, Sugarman J, Benson CA. HIV prevention in clinical care settings: 2014 recommendations of the International Antiviral Society-USA Panel. JAMA 2014; 312:390-409. [PMID: 25038358 PMCID: PMC6309682 DOI: 10.1001/jama.2014.7999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Emerging data warrant the integration of biomedical and behavioral recommendations for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention in clinical care settings. OBJECTIVE To provide current recommendations for the prevention of HIV infection in adults and adolescents for integration in clinical care settings. DATA SOURCES, STUDY SELECTION, AND DATA SYNTHESIS Data published or presented as abstracts at scientific conferences (past 17 years) were systematically searched and reviewed by the International Antiviral (formerly AIDS) Society-USA HIV Prevention Recommendations Panel. Panel members supplied additional relevant publications, reviewed available data, and formed recommendations by full-panel consensus. RESULTS Testing for HIV is recommended at least once for all adults and adolescents, with repeated testing for those at increased risk of acquiring HIV. Clinicians should be alert to the possibility of acute HIV infection and promptly pursue diagnostic testing if suspected. At diagnosis of HIV, all individuals should be linked to care for timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Support for adherence and retention in care, individualized risk assessment and counseling, assistance with partner notification, and periodic screening for common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is recommended for HIV-infected individuals as part of care. In HIV-uninfected patients, those persons at high risk of HIV infection should be prioritized for delivery of interventions such as preexposure prophylaxis and individualized counseling on risk reduction. Daily emtricitabine/tenofovir disoproxil fumarate is recommended as preexposure prophylaxis for persons at high risk for HIV based on background incidence or recent diagnosis of incident STIs, use of injection drugs or shared needles, or recent use of nonoccupational postexposure prophylaxis; ongoing use of preexposure prophylaxis should be guided by regular risk assessment. For persons who inject drugs, harm reduction services should be provided (needle and syringe exchange programs, supervised injection, and available medically assisted therapies, including opioid agonists and antagonists); low-threshold detoxification and drug cessation programs should be made available. Postexposure prophylaxis is recommended for all persons who have sustained a mucosal or parenteral exposure to HIV from a known infected source and should be initiated as soon as possible. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Data support the integration of biomedical and behavioral approaches for prevention of HIV infection in clinical care settings. A concerted effort to implement combination strategies for HIV prevention is needed to realize the goal of an AIDS-free generation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - David R Holtgrave
- The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Beatriz Grinsztejn
- Evandro Chagas Clinical Research Institute (IPEC)-FIOCRUZ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - N Kumarasamy
- YR Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education, Chennai, India
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Massavon W, Barlow-Mosha L, Mugenyi L, McFarland W, Gray G, Lundin R, Costenaro P, Nannyonga MM, Penazzato M, Bagenda D, Namisi CP, Wabwire D, Mubiru M, Kironde S, Bilardi D, Mazza A, Fowler MG, Musoke P, Giaquinto C. Factors Determining Survival and Retention among HIV-Infected Children and Adolescents in a Community Home-Based Care and a Facility-Based Family-Centred Approach in Kampala, Uganda: A Cohort Study. ISRN AIDS 2014; 2014:852489. [PMID: 25006529 PMCID: PMC4003865 DOI: 10.1155/2014/852489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2013] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
We describe factors determining retention and survival among HIV-infected children and adolescents engaged in two health care delivery models in Kampala, Uganda: one is a community home-based care (CHBC) and the other is a facility-based family-centred approach (FBFCA). This retrospective cohort study reviewed records from children aged from 0 to 18 years engaged in the two models from 2003 to 2010 focussing on retention/loss to follow-up, mortality, use of antiretroviral therapy (ART), and clinical characteristics. Kaplan Meier survival curves with log rank tests were used to describe and compare retention and survival. Overall, 1,623 children were included, 90.0% (1460/1623) from the CHBC. Children completed an average of 4.2 years of follow-up (maximum 7.7 years). Median age was 53 (IQR: 11-109) months at enrolment. In the CHBC, retention differed significantly between patients on ART and those not (log-rank test, adjusted, P < 0.001). Comparing ART patients in both models, there was no significant difference in long-term survival (log-rank test, P = 0.308, adjusted, P = 0.489), while retention was higher in the CHBC: 94.8% versus 84.7% in the FBFCA (log-rank test, P < 0.001, adjusted P = 0.006). Irrespective of model of care, children receiving ART had better retention in care and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- W. Massavon
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, Italy
- St. Raphael of St. Francis Hospital (Nsambya Hospital), Kampala, Uganda
| | - L. Barlow-Mosha
- Makerere University, Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - L. Mugenyi
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Mulago Hospital Complex, Kampala, Uganda
| | - W. McFarland
- Department of Global Health Sciences, University of California San Francisco, 50 Beale Street, 12th Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105, USA
| | - G. Gray
- University of Witwatersrand, 1 Jan Smuts Avenue, Braamfontein 2000, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - R. Lundin
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - P. Costenaro
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - M. M. Nannyonga
- St. Raphael of St. Francis Hospital (Nsambya Hospital), Kampala, Uganda
| | - M. Penazzato
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - D. Bagenda
- Makerere University, Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Global Heath and Population, Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - C. P. Namisi
- St. Raphael of St. Francis Hospital (Nsambya Hospital), Kampala, Uganda
| | - D. Wabwire
- Makerere University, Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - M. Mubiru
- Makerere University, Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
| | - S. Kironde
- St. Raphael of St. Francis Hospital (Nsambya Hospital), Kampala, Uganda
| | - D. Bilardi
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, Italy
| | - A. Mazza
- Santa Chiara Hospital, Via Largo Gold Medals 9, 38122 Trento, Italy
| | - M. G. Fowler
- Makerere University, Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine 600 N. Wolfe Street/Carnegie 43 Baltimore, MD 21287, USA
| | - P. Musoke
- Makerere University, Johns Hopkins University Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - C. Giaquinto
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 3, 35128 Padua, Italy
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25
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Cohen MS, Smith MK, Muessig KE, Hallett TB, Powers KA, Kashuba AD. Antiretroviral treatment of HIV-1 prevents transmission of HIV-1: where do we go from here? Lancet 2013; 382:1515-24. [PMID: 24152938 PMCID: PMC3880570 DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(13)61998-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Antiretroviral drugs that inhibit viral replication were expected to reduce transmission of HIV by lowering the concentration of HIV in the genital tract. In 11 of 13 observational studies, antiretroviral therapy (ART) provided to an HIV-infected index case led to greatly reduced transmission of HIV to a sexual partner. In the HPTN 052 randomised controlled trial, ART used in combination with condoms and counselling reduced HIV transmission by 96·4%. Evidence is growing that wider, earlier initiation of ART could reduce population-level incidence of HIV. However, the full benefits of this strategy will probably need universal access to very early ART and excellent adherence to treatment. Challenges to this approach are substantial. First, not all HIV-infected individuals can be located, especially people with acute and early infection who are most contagious. Second, the ability of ART to prevent HIV transmission in men who have sex with men (MSM) and people who use intravenous drugs has not been shown. Indeed, the stable or increased incidence of HIV in MSM in some communities where widespread use of ART has been established emphasises the concern that not enough is known about treatment as prevention for this crucial population. Third, although US guidelines call for immediate use of ART, such guidelines have not been embraced worldwide. Some experts do not believe that immediate or early ART is justified by present evidence, or that health-care infrastructure for this approach is sufficient. These concerns are very difficult to resolve. Ongoing community-based prospective trials of early ART are likely to help to establish the population-level benefit of ART, and-if successful-to galvanise treatment as prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myron S Cohen
- Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Microbiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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