Differentiated service delivery (DSD) models for HIV treatment are expected to improve healthcare providers’ quality of professional life by reducing the patient/provider ratio and allowing providers to spend more time with recipients-of-care in need. We interviewed various cadres of healthcare providers to evaluate the effect of DSD models on job
BACKGROUND • Like many countries across sub-Saharan Africa, South Africa has been scaling up differentiated service delivery (DSD) models to improve ART coverage • DSD models aim to increase HIV treatment programs’ responsiveness to the individual needs of recipients of care (RoC) to improve treatment outcomes and quality of life. • Current evidence shows that compared to conventional care, DSD models of care can lead to slightly improved treatment outcomes, lower costs for
Background: South Africa’s move to universal HIV test and treat (UTT) and same-day initiation (SDI) of antiretroviral therapy (ART) improved treatment uptake with hopes of also reducing patient losses from care. Methods: We included all patients diagnosed with HIV at public-sector health facilities in 2015-2019 and represented on the TIER.net clinical database in participating provinces (six of nine) in South Africa. Patients were followed up from the date of HIV diagnosis to 12 months. We
People who are virally-suppressed cannot transmit HIV sexually. While the science of HIV treatment- as-prevention (TasP) is clear, this message has not been disseminated widely in sub-Saharan Africa, limiting its value in motivating treatment uptake, adherence, and retention HIV care. We sought to understand the TasP communication needs of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) and barriers and facilitators to TasP communication among health care workers in South
Messages on HIV treatment-as-prevention (TasP) and undetectable=untransmittable (U=U) have not historically been emphasized during HIV counselling in South Africa. We sought to develop videobased communication materials to support HIV counsellors in confidently sharing accurate information on TasP with persons living with HIV
Universal eligibility for antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has reduced HIV transmissions and deaths among people living with HIV (PLHIV). A growing proportion of transmissions and deaths now occur among PLHIV who have interrupted ART. Dozens of interventions to improve retention on ART have been proposed, but most of them cost more than standard-of-care. Research is needed to inform the upper-bound costs at which such interventions should be adopted. We used three HIV
HIV modelling and economic analyses have had a prominent role in guiding programmatic responses to HIV in subSaharan Africa. However, there has been little reflection on how the HIV modelling field might develop in future. HIV modelling should more routinely align with national government and ministry of health priorities, recognising their legitimate mandates and stewardship responsibilities, for HIV and other wider health programmes. Importance should also be placed on ensuring collaboration
The scale up of access to HIV care and treatment is critical to the success of achieving the UNAIDS 95-95-95 goals in South Africa (SA)(1). There were an estimated 5.4 million people on Antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the SA public sector in 2021, including 137,655 children (<15 years) and 5,328,800 adults(2). Despite the large HIV burden, it is estimated that only 62% of the 7.5 million people who are living with HIV (PLHIV) in the country are on
Abstract Introduction: Older adolescents aged 15–19 years continue to have high rates of loss to follow up (LTFU), and high rates of virologic non-suppression (VNS) compared to younger adolescents and adults. Adolescent females are at risk of pregnancy, which puts those living with HIV at a dual vulnerability. Our study assessed the factors associated with VNS and LTFU in older adolescents (including pregnant females) who initiated antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Africa. Methods:
Background: Attrition threatens the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART). In this cohort study, we examined outcomes of people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV) who were lost to follow-up (LTFU) during 2014–2017 at ART programs in Southern Africa. Methods: We confirmed LTFU (missed appointment for ≥60 or ≥90 days, according to local guidelines) by checking medical records and used a standardized protocol to trace a weighted random sample of PLHIV who were LTFU
Abstract Simplified drug regimens may improve retention in care for chronic diseases. In April 2013, South Africa adopted a once-daily single-pill HIV treatment regimen as standard-of-care, replacing a multiple-pill regimen. Because the regimens had similar biological efficacy, the shift to single-pill therapy offers a real-world test of the impact of simplified drug delivery mechanisms on patient behavior. Using a quasi-experimental regression discontinuity design, we assessed retention
Abstract In response to the global pandemic of COVID-19, countries around the world began imposing stay-at-home orders, restrictions on transport, and closures of businesses in early 2020. South Africa implemented a strict lockdown in March 2020 before its first COVID-19 wave started, gradually lifted restrictions between May and September 2020, and then re-imposed restrictions in December 2020 in response to its second wave. There is concern that COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality, fear
