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Ferreyra C, Moretó-Planas L, Wagbo Temessadouno F, Alonso B, Tut B, Achut V, Eltom M, Aderie EM, Descalzo-Jorro V. Evaluation of a community-based HIV test and start program in a conflict affected rural area of Yambio County, South Sudan. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0254331. [PMID: 34252129 PMCID: PMC8274874 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage in South Sudan is around 10%. Access to HIV care in settings with low ART coverage or conflict affected is still low; innovative strategies are needed to increase access and ensure continuation of ART during instability. A pilot HIV test and start project was implemented in a conflict-affected area of South Sudan. In a retrospective analysis, we determined the feasibility and outcomes of this intervention. METHODS Programme data from July 2015 to June 2018 was analysed. The project involved five mobile teams offering HIV counselling and testing (HCT) and same day ART initiation at community level. Baseline and follow-up information on clinical, immunological and viral load (VL) was routinely recorded, as well as treatment outcomes. A semi-qualitative study was conducted to assess acceptability of the program among beneficiaries and community members. RESULTS By June 2018, 14824 people received counselling and testing for HIV and 498 (3.4%) tested positive. Out of those 395 (79.3%) started ART. A total of 72 ART patients were organized in 26 Community ART Groups (CAGs) and contingency plan was activated 9 times for 101 patients. Kaplan-Meier estimated retention in care (RIC) at 12 and 18 months was 80.6% [95% CI: 75.9-84.5%] and 69.9% [95% CI: 64.4-74.8%] respectively. RIC was significantly higher at 18 months in patients under community ART groups (CAGs) (90.9% versus 63.4% p<0.001) when compared to patients on regular follow up. VL suppression at 12 months was 90.3% and overall virological suppression reached 91.2%. A total of 279 persons were interviewed about the MSF program perception and acceptance: 98% had heard about the programme and 84% found it beneficial for the community, 98% accepted to be tested and only 4% found disadvantages to the programme. CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that HCT and early ART initiation in conflict affected populations can be provided with good program outcomes. RIC and virological suppression are comparable with facility-based HIV programs and to those in stable contexts. This model could be extrapolated to other similar contexts with low access to ART and where security situation is a concern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Buai Tut
- Médecins sans Frontières, Juba, South Sudan
| | - Victoria Achut
- Ministry of Health, Republic of South Sudan, HIV/AIDS/STI, Juba, South Sudan
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Chandna A, Aderie EM, Ahmad R, Arguni E, Ashley EA, Cope T, Dat VQ, Day NPJ, Dondorp AM, Illanes V, De Jesus J, Jimenez C, Kain K, Suy K, Koshiaris C, Lasry E, Mayxay M, Mondal D, Perera R, Pongvongsa T, Rattanavong S, Rekart M, Richard-Greenblatt M, Shomik M, Souvannasing P, Tallo V, Turner C, Turner P, Waithira N, Watson JA, Yosia M, Burza S, Lubell Y. Prediction of disease severity in young children presenting with acute febrile illness in resource-limited settings: a protocol for a prospective observational study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e045826. [PMID: 33495264 PMCID: PMC7839891 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/11/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In rural and difficult-to-access settings, early and accurate recognition of febrile children at risk of progressing to serious illness could contribute to improved patient outcomes and better resource allocation. This study aims to develop a prognostic clinical prediction tool to assist community healthcare providers identify febrile children who might benefit from referral or admission for facility-based medical care. METHODS AND ANALYSIS This prospective observational study will recruit at least 4900 paediatric inpatients and outpatients under the age of 5 years presenting with an acute febrile illness to seven hospitals in six countries across Asia. A venous blood sample and nasopharyngeal swab is collected from each participant and detailed clinical data recorded at presentation, and each day for the first 48 hours of admission for inpatients. Multianalyte assays are performed at reference laboratories to measure a panel of host biomarkers, as well as targeted aetiological investigations for common bacterial and viral pathogens. Clinical outcome is ascertained on day 2 and day 28.Presenting syndromes, clinical outcomes and aetiology of acute febrile illness will be described and compared across sites. Following the latest guidance in prediction model building, a prognostic clinical prediction model, combining simple clinical features and measurements of host biomarkers, will be derived and geographically externally validated. The performance of the model will be evaluated in specific presenting clinical syndromes and fever aetiologies. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has received approval from all relevant international, national and institutional ethics committees. Written informed consent is provided by the caretaker of all participants. Results will be shared with local and national stakeholders, and disseminated via peer-reviewed open-access journals and scientific meetings. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER NCT04285021.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arjun Chandna
- Angkor Hospital for Children, Cambodia Oxford Medical Research Unit, Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Endashaw M Aderie
- Médecins Sans Frontières Operational Centre Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Riris Ahmad
- Centre for Tropical Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakart, Indonesia
| | - Eggi Arguni
- Centre for Tropical Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Daerah Istimewa Yogyakart, Indonesia
| | - Elizabeth A Ashley
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
- Microbiology Department, Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Tanya Cope
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand
| | | | - Nicholas P J Day
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Arjen M Dondorp
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Victor Illanes
- Médecins Sans Frontières Operational Centre Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Joanne De Jesus
- Clinical Trials, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
| | - Carolina Jimenez
- Médecins Sans Frontières Operational Centre Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Kevin Kain
- Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Keang Suy
- Angkor Hospital for Children, Cambodia Oxford Medical Research Unit, Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Siem Reap, Cambodia
| | | | - Estrella Lasry
- Médecins Sans Frontières Operational Centre Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mayfong Mayxay
- Microbiology Department, Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Faculty of Postgraduate Studies, University of Health Sciences, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Dinesh Mondal
- Centre for Nutrition and Food Security (CNFS), icddr,b, Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Rafael Perera
- Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tiengkham Pongvongsa
- Microbiology Department, Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
- Savannakhet Provincial Health Department, Savannakhet, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Sayaphet Rattanavong
- Microbiology Department, Lao-Oxford-Mahosot Hospital-Wellcome Trust Research Unit, Vientiane, Vientiane, Lao People's Democratic Republic
| | - Michael Rekart
- Médecins Sans Frontières Operational Centre Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Mohammad Shomik
- Centre for Nutrition and Food Security (CNFS), icddr,b, Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Veronica Tallo
- Clinical Trials, Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Research Institute for Tropical Medicine, Muntinlupa City, Philippines
| | - Claudia Turner
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
- Angkor Hospital for Children, Siem Reap, Siem Reap, Cambodia
| | - Paul Turner
- Angkor Hospital for Children, Cambodia Oxford Medical Research Unit, Siem Reap, Cambodia
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
| | - Naomi Waithira
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - James A Watson
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Mikhael Yosia
- Médecins Sans Frontières Operational Centre Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sakib Burza
- Médecins Sans Frontières Operational Centre Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yoel Lubell
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, Oxfordshire, UK
- Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol-Oxford Tropical Medicine Research Unit, Bangkok, Thailand
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Aderie EM, Diro E, Zachariah R, da Fonseca MS, Abongomera C, Dolamo BL, Ritmeijer K. Does timing of antiretroviral treatment influence treatment outcomes of visceral leishmaniasis in Northwest Ethiopia? Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2018. [PMID: 28633331 PMCID: PMC5914408 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trx023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) patients with HIV co-infection should receive antiretroviral treatment (ART). However, the best timing for initiation of ART is not known. Among such individuals, we assessed the influence of ART timing on VL outcomes. Methods A retrospective cohort study was conducted in Northwest Ethiopia among VL patients starting ART between 2008 and 2015. VL outcomes were assessed by the twelfth month of starting ART, within 4 weeks of VL diagnosis or thereafter. Results Of 213 VL-HIV co-infected patients with ART initiation, 96 (45.1%) had moderate to severe malnutrition, 53 (24.9%) had active TB and 128 (60.1%) had hemoglobin levels under 9 g/dL. Eighty-nine (41.8%) were already on ART before VL diagnosis, 46 (21.6%) started ART within 4 weeks, and 78 (36.6%) thereafter. Definitive cure in those starting ART within 4 weeks 59% (95% CI 43–75%) and those starting thereafter 56% (95% CI 44–68%) was not significantly different. Those starting ART before primary VL had higher 12-months mortality compared to those starting later (RR 0.6; 95% CI 0.4–0.9; p=0.012). Conclusions VL-HIV patients are severely ill and with serious additional comorbidities. Outcomes of HIV-VL management are unsatisfactory and early ART initiation was associated with higher mortality. Further research on the optimal timing of ART initiation, and ensuring earlier diagnosis of VL patients, with improved management of comorbidities are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rony Zachariah
- Médecins sans Frontières, Operational Center Brussels (LuxOR), Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
| | | | - Charles Abongomera
- Médecins Sans Frontières, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.,Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Koert Ritmeijer
- Médecins sans Frontières, Operational Center Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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