United Nations Programme On HIV/AIDS Research Articles

Knowledge, attitudes and practices of doctors regarding isoniazid preventive therapy in HIV/AIDS patients at Odi District Hospital, Gauteng province, South Africa

Introduction: Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) can reduce the overall risk of active tuberculosis (TB) in people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) by up to 62%. As a result the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have recommended IPT provision as a global strategy to reduce the prevalence of TB for PLHIV. However, whilst there are 84 countries supporting the provision of IPT in their policies, less than 1% of PLHIV in those countries are currently receiving IPT. Approximately 65% of TB patients in South Africa are HIV co-infected. Despite this fact, doctors are hesitant to prescribe IPT to TB-negative HIV-infected patients. Many doctors are also unaware of the current IPT guidelines of South Africa. This study sought to determine the level of knowledge, attitudes and practices of doctors regarding IPT for patients infected with HIV at Odi Hospital in Gauteng.Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken with a standardised questionnaire administered to 51 doctors working at Odi Hospital.Results: There were 51 respondents, many doctors (43.1%) having an excellent knowledge of IPT. Although one-third of the doctors were dispassionate about IPT provision, the majority of respondents (54.9%) had positive attitudes towards IPT provision. On average the doctors had good practices regarding IPT provision (35.3%). There were 12 (23.5%) doctors who were trained for IPT implementation. Although training was not associated with doctors’ knowledge or attitudes towards IPT, it was associated with the practice of IPT implementation.Conclusion: Irrespective of their position, doctors at Odi District Hospital need formal training on the implementation of IPT, as this increases their confidence in IPT and their implementation practices.

Heterogeneity of virological suppression in the national antiretroviral programme of Cameroon (ANRS 12288 EVOLCAM).

In terms of HIV infection, western and central Africa is the second most affected region world-wide, and the gap between the regional figures for the testing and treatment cascade and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets is particularly worrying. We assessed the prevalence of virological suppression in patients routinely treated in 19 hospitals in Cameroon. A cross-sectional survey was performed in adult patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the Centre and Littoral regions. The prevalences of virological suppression (<1000 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL) were compared among all 19 hospitals using the χ2 test. Potential individual and health care-related determinants of virological suppression were assessed using multivariate logistic regression models. A total of 1700 patients (74% women; median age 41 years; median time on ART 3.7 years) were included in the study. The prevalence of virological suppression was 82.4% overall (95% confidence interval 80.5-84.2%). It ranged from 57.1 to 97.4% according to the individual hospital (P < 0.001). After adjustment, virological suppression was associated with age, CD4 cell count at ART initiation, disclosure of HIV status to family members, interruption of ART for more than two consecutive days, and location of patient's residence and hospital (rural/urban). These factors did not explain the heterogeneity of virological suppression between the study hospitals (P < 0.001). The overall prevalence of virological suppression was reassuring. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity of virological suppression among hospitals highlights that, in addition to programme-level data, health facility-level data are crucial in order to tailor the national AIDS programme's interventions with a view to achieving the third UNAIDS 90 target.

Continuum of care of people living with HIV and gaps in achieving the 90-90-90 goals in Peru

In 2013, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) proposed, in terms of public health, to end the HIV epidemic by 2030 by achieving the so-called 90-90-90 targets by 2020. This goal will only be possible if coverage in the HIV care continuum indicators is increased. With the methodology proposed by PAHO/WHO, this paper estimates the indicators of the continuum of care in Peru for 2014, consisting of diagnostic coverage, antiretroviral treatment (ART), and viral suppression in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Of the 72,000 PLHIV estimated in Peru for 2014, 64% were diagnosed, 56% and 55% were linked and retained in the system, respectively; 46% were receiving ART, and 36% had viral suppression. The main gaps identified were: 19,917 PLHIV did not know their diagnosis, 25,078 had no access to treatment, and 25,633 did not achieve viral suppression at study closing. This is the first estimation exercise of the continuum of care indicators in Peru. These indicators will serve as a baseline for the monitoring progress toward the 90- 90-90 Targets. It is also the starting point for analysis and research on the determinants of each gap and new proposals by authorities and actors involved in the fight against HIV in Peru.

Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of HIV Infected Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Oman.

In 2015, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) set a target that 90% of all people living with HIV will know their HIV status, 90% of those diagnosed will receive antiretroviral therapy, and 90% of those receiving antiretroviral therapy will have viral suppression by 2020. We sought to elucidate the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of HIV infected patients at the Infectious Diseases Clinic at Royal Hospital, Oman, with a focus on the UNAIDS 90-90-90 achieved rates. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the medical records of 326 HIV infected patients from 1989 to 2016. Data collected included demographics, Word Health Organization (WHO) staging, laboratory analyses, and treatment outcomes. The overall mean age of the cohort was 36.0±15.0 years, and 60.4% (n = 197) were males. The majority of patients acquired HIV through heterosexual transmission (58.9%; n = 192). At the time of the first clinic visit, 26.1% (n = 85) of patients had WHO stage 4 HIV infection. The rates of HIV/HBV and HIV/HCV coinfections were 2.7% and 5.8%, respectively. The baseline CD4+ cells count was < 200 cells/mm3 in 38.0% (n = 124) of patients, 201-500 cells/mm3 in 30.1% (n = 99) of patients, and > 500 cells/mm3 in 27.0% (n = 88) of patients. The baseline HIV RNA titer was greater than 1000 copies/mL3 in 74.5% (n = 243) of the cohort. A total of 96.3% (n = 314) of patients received antiretroviral therapy, most commonly non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based regimens. HIV genotype resistance testing was performed in 165 patients (50.6%) either at baseline in treatment naïve patients or following treatment failure. Among the 326 patients included, 22 patients (6.7%) died, and 29 patients (8.9%) were lost to follow-up. Regarding the UNAIDs 90-90-90 target, over a quarter of the patients presented late with WHO stage 4 HIV disease, 96.3% of cohort patients received antiretroviral treatment, and 71.5% achieved virological suppression.

Shifting the HIV Paradigm from Care to Cure: Proceedings from the Caribbean Expert Summit in Barbados, August 2017.

The CCAS EXPERT SUMMIT convened an array of international experts in Barbados on August 27–31, 2017 under the theme “From Care to Cure–Shifting the HIV Paradigm.” The Caribbean Cytometry & Analytical Society (CCAS) partnered with the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to deliver a program that reviewed the advances in antiretroviral therapy and the public health benefits accruing from treatment as prevention. Particular emphasis was placed on reexamining stigma and discrimination through a critical appraisal of whether public health messaging and advocacy had kept pace with the advances in medicine. Persistent fear of HIV driving discriminatory behavior was widely reported in different regions and sectors, including the healthcare profession itself; continued fear of the disease was starkly misaligned with the successes of new medical treatments and progress toward the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets. The summit therefore adopted the mantra “Test-Treat-Defeat” to help engage with the public in a spirit of optimism aimed at creating a more conducive environment for persons to be tested and treated and, thereby, help reduce HIV disease and stigma at the individual and community levels.

HIV knowledge trends during an era of rapid antiretroviral therapy scale-up: an analysis of 33 sub-Saharan African countries.

IntroductionPopulation‐level improvements in knowledge about HIV may reduce the stigma attached to HIV and ensure maximal uptake of HIV prevention initiatives. The extent to which levels of HIV knowledge in the general population of sub‐Saharan Africa have changed in the current era of antiretroviral therapy (ART) scale‐up remains unknown.MethodsData on HIV knowledge in the general population were drawn from the 2003 to 2015 Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and AIDS Indicator Surveys (AIS) of 33 countries in sub‐Saharan Africa. The DHS/AIS contain five questions on HIV prevention and transmission that have been used by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) as a core indicator of HIV knowledge. We created a composite HIV knowledge variable equal to the number of correct responses to these five questions; a participant was considered to have comprehensive knowledge of HIV (yes/no) if he/she answered all five questions correctly. We fitted negative binomial regression models with cluster‐correlated robust standard errors and country fixed effects, adjusted for socio‐demographic variables, specifying HIV knowledge as the dependent variable and year as the explanatory variable. As an alternative parameterization, we also fitted a multivariable linear probability model with cluster‐correlated robust standard errors and country fixed effects specifying comprehensive knowledge of HIV as the dependent variable.ResultsA total of 791,186 women and 395,891 men participating in 75 DHS/AIS were included in the analyses. The mean HIV knowledge score was 3.7 among women and 3.9 among men (p < 0.001). Only 35% of women and 41% of men (p < 0.001) had a comprehensive knowledge of HIV. We estimated a modest but statistically significant positive association between year of DHS/AIS and HIV knowledge (adjusted b = 0.005; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.001 to 0.009). Similarly, we estimated a statistically significant positive association between year of DHS/AIS and comprehensive knowledge of HIV (adjusted b = 0.011; 95% CI, 0.005 to 0.017), suggesting an approximately 1% relative increase per year in the percentage of the general population who possess a comprehensive knowledge of HIV.ConclusionsThere have been minimal improvements over time in HIV knowledge across sub‐Saharan Africa.

The Taming Wicked Problems Framework: A plausible biosocial contribution to ‘ending AIDS by 2030’

In 2014, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) published the Gap Report, which states that a new biosocial response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic is required to reinforce the biomedical strategy – Vision 90:90:90 – which is designed to end AIDS by 2030. This article provides a descriptive account of how a community–university partnership developed and piloted an innovative, transdisciplinary approach to HIV and AIDS management that could represent a nascent biosocial candidate to reinforce the biomedical strategy. The biosocial strategy has been labelled as the Taming Wicked Problems Framework that is influenced by ontological perspectives associated with complexity theory. The article focuses on how the Taming Wicked Problems Framework was developed by co-opting and repurposing management techniques associated with complexity into an action-oriented HIV and AIDS combination intervention. Three years after the pilot began, the Taming Wicked Problems Framework continues to provision the partnership with opportunities to ‘tame’ non-linear, biosocial aspects of the HIV and AIDS epidemic in rural South Africa. However, with the benefit of hindsight, there are some improvements and caveats that are highlighted so that future applications will be more robust. It is suggested that the Taming Wicked Problems Framework could represent one localised biosocial response that could contribute to ending AIDS by 2030.

Monitoring the HIV continuum of care in key populations across Europe and Central Asia.

The aim of the study was to measure and compare national continuum of HIV care estimates in Europe and Central Asia in three key subpopulations: men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID) and migrants. Responses to a 2016 European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) survey of 55 European and Central Asian countries were used to describe continuums of HIV care for the subpopulations. Data were analysed using three frameworks: Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 targets; breakpoint analysis identifying reductions between adjacent continuum stages; quadrant analysis categorizing countries using 90% cut-offs for continuum stages. Overall, 29 of 48 countries reported national data for all HIV continuum stages (numbers living with HIV, diagnosed, receiving treatment and virally suppressed). Six countries reported all stages for MSM, seven for PWID and two for migrants. Thirty-one countries did not report data for MSM (34 for PWID and 41 for migrants). In countries that provided key-population data, overall, 63%, 40% and 41% of MSM, PWID and migrants living with HIV were virally suppressed, respectively (compared with 68%, 65% and 68% nationally, for countries reporting key-population data). Variation was observed between countries, with higher outcomes in subpopulations in Western Europe compared with Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Few reporting countries can produce the continuum of HIV care for the three key populations. Where data are available, differences exist in outcomes between the general and key populations. While MSM broadly mirror national outcomes (in the West), PWID and migrants experience poorer treatment and viral suppression. Countries must develop continuum measures for key populations to identify and address inequalities.

Psychosocial characteristics of primary care-seeking long-distance truck drivers in Kenya and associations with HIV testing

The 90-90-90 strategy from the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) to end the AIDS epidemic by 2020 includes, as its first goal, to have 90% of all people living with HIV to know their status. Achieving this goal will depend on effectively reaching high risk populations, which include mobile populations such as truck drivers. This study aimed to characterise a sample of 305 truck drivers recruited from 2 roadside wellness clinics in Kenya in terms of anticipated HIV stigma, self-efficacy, fatalism, gender equity, sensation seeking, and self-esteem, and then determine the association of these psychosocial characteristics with HIV testing behaviour. Greater general self-efficacy was associated with higher income and more years working as a truck driver. Greater fatalism was associated with non-Christian religion, being married, and having a lower income. Greater gender equity was associated with completing high school, being married, and having higher income. Greater sensation seeking was associated with lower income and fewer years employed as a truck driver. In multivariable logistic regression adjusted for demographic variables, anticipated HIV stigma was negatively associated with having ever tested for HIV (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.63–0.98; p = 0.034) and self-esteem was positively associated with testing (aOR = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.00–1.12; p = 0.038). Associations with HIV testing behaviour were not significant for self-efficacy, fatalism, gender equity, or sensation seeking. Public health interventions aiming to reduce anticipated stigma and increase self-esteem may potentially increase the uptake of HIV testing among truck drivers. Further research is needed to better understand the influence of these psychosocial characteristics on HIV testing.

Age Differences in Perceptions of and Motivations for Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Among Adolescents in South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe.

BackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) have set a Fast-Track goal to achieve 90% coverage of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) among boys and men aged 10–29 years in priority settings by 2021. We aimed to identify age-specific facilitators of VMMC uptake among adolescents.MethodsYounger (aged 10–14 years; n = 967) and older (aged 15–19 years; n = 559) male adolescents completed structured interviews about perceptions of and motivations for VMMC before receiving VMMC counseling at 14 service provision sites across South Africa, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe. Adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were estimated using multivariable modified Poisson regression models with generalized estimating equations and robust standard errors.ResultsThe majority of adolescents reported a strong desire for VMMC. Compared with older adolescents, younger adolescents were less likely to cite protection against human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or other sexually transmitted infections (aPR, 0.77; 95% confidence interval [CI], .66–.91) and hygienic reasons (aPR, 0.55; 95% CI, .39–.77) as their motivation to undergo VMMC but were more likely to report being motivated by advice from others (aPR, 1.88; 95% CI, 1.54–2.29). Although most adolescents believed that undergoing VMMC was a normative behavior, younger adolescents were less likely to perceive higher descriptive norms (aPR, 0.79; .71–.89), injunctive norms (aPR, 0.86; 95% CI, .73–1.00), or anticipated stigma for being uncircumcised (aPR, 0.79; 95% CI, .68–.90). Younger adolescents were also less likely than older adolescents to correctly cite that VMMC offers men and boys partial HIV protection (aPR, 0.73; 95% CI, .65–.82). Irrespective of age, adolescents’ main concern about undergoing VMMC was pain (aPR, 0.95; 95% CI, .87–1.04). Among younger adolescents, fear of pain was negatively associated with desire for VMMC (aPR, 0.89; 95% CI, .83–.96).ConclusionsAge-specific strategies are important to consider to generate sustainable demand for VMMC. Programmatic efforts should consider building on the social norms surrounding VMMC and aim to alleviate fears about pain.

Collaborative care for the detection and management of depression among adults receiving antiretroviral therapy in South Africa: study protocol for the CobALT randomised controlled trial

BackgroundThe scale-up of antiretroviral treatment (ART) programmes has seen HIV/AIDS transition to a chronic condition characterised by high rates of comorbidity with tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health disorders. Depression is one such disorder that is associated with higher rates of non-adherence, progression to AIDS and greater mortality. Detection and treatment of comorbid depression is critical to achieve viral load suppression in more than 90% of those on ART and is in line with the recent 90-90-90 Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) targets. The CobALT trial aims to provide evidence on the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of scalable interventions to reduce the treatment gap posed by the growing burden of depression among adults on lifelong ART.MethodsThe study design is a pragmatic, parallel group, stratified, cluster randomised trial in 40 clinics across two rural districts of the North West Province of South Africa. The unit of randomisation is the clinic, with outcomes measured among 2000 patients on ART who screen positive for depression using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9). Control group clinics are implementing the South African Department of Health’s Integrated Clinical Services Management model, which aims to reduce fragmentation of care in the context of rising multimorbidity, and which includes training in the Primary Care 101 (PC101) guide covering communicable diseases, NCDs, women’s health and mental disorders. In intervention clinics, we supplemented this with training specifically in the mental health components of PC101 and clinical communications skills training to support nurse-led chronic care. We strengthened the referral pathways through the introduction of a clinic-based behavioural health counsellor equipped to provide manualised depression counselling (eight sessions, individual or group), as well as adherence counselling sessions (one session, individual). The co-primary patient outcomes are a reduction in PHQ-9 scores of at least 50% from baseline and viral load suppression rates measured at 6 and 12 months, respectively.DiscussionThe trial will provide real-world effectiveness of case detection and collaborative care for depression including facility-based counselling on the mental and physical outcomes for people on lifelong ART in resource-constrained settings.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02407691) registered on 19 March 2015; Pan African Clinical Trials Registry (201504001078347) registered on 19/03/2015; South African National Clinical Trials Register (SANCTR) (DOH-27-0515-5048) NHREC number 4048 issued on 21/04/2015.

Progress towards the UNAIDS 90\u201390-90 goals by age and gender in a rural area of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a household-based community cross-sectional survey

BackgroundThe Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has developed an ambitious strategy to end the AIDS epidemic. After eight years of antiretroviral therapy (ART) program we assessed progress towards the UNAIDS 90–90-90 targets in Mbongolwane and Eshowe, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional household-based community survey using a two-stage stratified cluster probability sampling strategy. Persons aged 15–59 years were eligible. We used face-to-face interviewer-administered questionnaires to collect information on history of HIV testing and care. Rapid HIV testing was performed on site and venous blood specimens collected from HIV-positive participants for antiretroviral drug presence test, CD4 count and viral load. At the time of the survey the CD4 threshold for ART initiation was 350 cells/μL. We calculated progression towards the 90–90-90 UNAIDS targets by estimating three proportions: HIV positive individuals who knew their status (first 90), those diagnosed who were on ART (second 90), and those on ART who were virally suppressed (third 90).ResultsWe included 5649/6688 (84.5%) individuals. Median age was 26 years (IQR: 19–40), 62.3% were women. HIV prevalence was 25.2% (95% CI: 23.6–26.9): 30.9% (95% CI: 29.0–32.9) in women; 15.9% (95% CI: 14.0–18.0) in men. Overall progress towards the 90–90-90 targets was as follows: 76.4% (95% CI: 74.1–78.6) knew their status, 69.9% (95% CI: 67.0–72.7) of those who knew their status were on ART and 93.1% (95% CI: 91.0–94.8) of those on ART were virally suppressed. By sex, progress towards the 90–90-90 targets was: 79%–71%–93% among women; and 68%–68%–92% among men (p-values of women and men comparisons were < 0.001, 0.443 and 0.584 respectively). By age, progress was: 83%–75%–95% among individuals aged 30–59 years and 64%–58%–89% among those aged 15–29 years (p-values of age groups comparisons were < 0.001, < 0.001 and 0.011 respectively).ConclusionsIn this context of high HIV prevalence, significant progress has been achieved with regards to reaching the UNAIDS 90–90-90 targets. The third 90, viral suppression in people on ART, was achieved among women and men. However, gaps persist in HIV diagnosis and ART coverage particularly in men and individuals younger than 30 years. Achieving 90–90-90 is feasible but requires additional investment to reach youth and men.

Evaluating the Determinants and Prevalence of HIV among Intravenous Drug Users in Benin

HIV remains a serious global health problem. In Benin, intravenous drug users (IDUs) are at higher risk for HIV infection and are one of the groups the National AIDS Control Council (CNLS) has focused on in its strategic planning. The present study was conducted to estimate the rate of HIV prevalence among IDUs in Benin and identify potential risk factors. To this end, the 2013 and 2015 directives issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) regarding Second generation surveillance were followed. In total, 386 IDUs participated in the study from all departments of Benin, 3.1% of them were women. The average age of participants was 35 (±10.7). The median length of time that participants had been using drugs was 10 years (range: 0 - 45) and cocaine was the most frequently consumed substance (56.0%). During their last injection, 90.9% of respondents used sterile injecting equipment. The HIV prevalence rate among IDUs was 4.7% (95% CI: 2.63% - 7.11%), compared to 1.2% within the general population. The results of this study highlight the need to implement continual HIV surveillance systems and develop prevention tools that specifically address the needs of IDUs.

Status of HIV Epidemic Control Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women Aged 15-24 Years - Seven African Countries, 2015-2017.

In 2016, an estimated 1.5 million females aged 15-24 years were living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in Eastern and Southern Africa, where the prevalence of HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women (3.4%) is more than double that for males in the same age range (1.6%) (1). Progress was assessed toward the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 2020 targets for adolescent girls and young women in sub-Saharan Africa (90% of those with HIV infection aware of their status, 90% of HIV-infected persons aware of their status on antiretroviral treatment [ART], and 90% of those on treatment virally suppressed [HIV viral load <1,000 HIV RNA copies/mL]) (2) using data from recent Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (PHIA) surveys in seven countries. The national prevalence of HIV infection in adolescent girls and young women aged 15-24 years, the percentage who were aware of their status, and among those persons who were aware, the percentage who had achieved viral suppression were calculated. The target for viral suppression among all persons with HIV infection is 73% (the product of 90% x 90% x 90%). Among all seven countries, the prevalence of HIV infection among adolescent girls and young women was 3.6%; among those in this group, 46.3% reported being aware of their HIV-positive status, and 45.0% were virally suppressed. Sustained efforts by national HIV and public health programs to diagnose HIV infection in adolescent girls and young women as early as possible to ensure rapid initiation of ART should help achieve epidemic control among adolescent girls and young women.

Integrating community pharmacy into community based anti-retroviral therapy program: A pilot implementation in Abuja, Nigeria.

BackgroundThe landscape of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) epidemic control is shifting with the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 benchmarks for epidemic control. Community-based Antiretroviral Therapy (CART) models have improved treatment uptake and demonstrated good clinical outcomes. We assessed the feasibility of integrating community pharmacy as a task shift structure for differentiated community ART in Abuja-Nigeria.MethodsStable patients on first line ART regimens from public health facilities were referred to community pharmacies in different locations within the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja for prescription refills and treatment maintenance. Bio-demographic and clinical data were collected from February 25, 2016 to May 31st, 2017 and descriptive statistics analysis applied. The outcomes of measure were prescription refill and patient retention in care at the community pharmacy.ResultsAlmost 10% of stable patients on treatment were successfully devolved from eight health facilities to ten community pharmacies. Median age of the participants was 35 years [interquartile range (IQR); 30, 41] with married women in the majority. Prescription refill was 100% and almost all the participants (99.3%) were retained in care after they were devolved to the community pharmacies. Only one participant was lost-to-follow-up as a result of death.ConclusionExcellent prescription refill and high retention in care with very low loss-to-follow-up were associated with the community pharmacy model. The use of community pharmacy for community ART is feasible in Nigeria. We recommend the scale up of the model in all the 36 states of Nigeria.

Population estimates on HIV in Chile 2017. SPECTRUM, UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) promotes the development of population estimates related to this epidemic, based on the use of the SPECTRUM software. In Chile, the estimates are updated annually, the last one corresponding to the year 2017, a process that included the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Health with the advice of experts from the UNAIDS headquarters in Geneva. The development of the 2017 estimation process yielded a number of 67,000 people living with HIV in 2017 (lower limit of 58,000 - upper limit of 76,000), with a prevalence in the group of 15 to 49 years of 0.6% (0.5-0.6%) and an incidence of 0.33 per thousand inhabitants. This document synthesizes the 2017 estimation process carried out in Chile, as well as the main results generated through this methodology.

Scale-Up of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Services for HIV Prevention - 12 Countries in Southern and Eastern Africa, 2013-2016.

Countries in Southern and Eastern Africa have the highest prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the world; in 2015, 52% (approximately 19 million) of all persons living with HIV infection resided in these two regions.* Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) reduces the risk for heterosexually acquired HIV infection among males by approximately 60% (1). As such, it is an essential component of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) strategy for ending acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by 2030 (2). Substantial progress toward achieving VMMC targets has been made in the 10 years since the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS recommended scale-up of VMMC for HIV prevention in 14 Southern and Eastern African countries with generalized HIV epidemics and low male circumcision prevalence (3).† This has been enabled in part by nearly $2 billion in cumulative funding through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), administered through multiple U.S. governmental agencies, including CDC, which has supported nearly half of all PEPFAR-supported VMMCs to date. Approximately 14.5 million VMMCs were performed globally during 2008-2016, which represented 70% of the original target of 20.8 million VMMCs in males aged 15-49 years through 2016 (4). Despite falling short of the target, these VMMCs are projected to avert 500,000 HIV infections by the end of 2030 (4). However, UNAIDS has estimated an additional 27 million VMMCs need to be performed by 2021 to meet the Fast Track targets (2). This report updates a previous report covering the period 2010-2012, when VMMC implementing partners supported by CDC performed approximately 1 million VMMCs in nine countries (5). During 2013-2016, these implementing partners performed nearly 5 million VMMCs in 12 countries. Meeting the global target will require redoubling current efforts and introducing novel strategies that increase demand among subgroups of males who have historically been reluctant to undergo VMMC.

MarkusHaackerThe Economics of the Global Response to HIV/AIDSOxford University Press, 2016. 304 p. $55.00.

MarkusHaackerThe Economics of the Global Response to HIV/AIDSOxford University Press, 2016. 304 p. $55.00.

Mapping the spatial variability of HIV infection in Sub-Saharan Africa: Effective information for localized HIV prevention and control

Under the premise that in a resource-constrained environment such as Sub-Saharan Africa it is not possible to do everything, to everyone, everywhere, detailed geographical knowledge about the HIV epidemic becomes essential to tailor programmatic responses to specific local needs. However, the design and evaluation of national HIV programs often rely on aggregated national level data. Against this background, here we proposed a model to produce high-resolution maps of intranational estimates of HIV prevalence in Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique and Tanzania based on spatial variables. The HIV prevalence maps generated highlight the stark spatial disparities in the epidemic within a country, and localize areas where both the burden and drivers of the HIV epidemic are concentrated. Under an era focused on optimal allocation of evidence-based interventions for populations at greatest risk in areas of greatest HIV burden, as proposed by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), such maps provide essential information that strategically targets geographic areas and populations where resources can achieve the greatest impact.

Prevalence of HIV at the Kokoyo informal gold mining site: what lies behind the glitter of gold with regard to HIV epidemics in Mali? A community-based approach (the ANRS-12339 Sanu Gundo cross-sectional survey)

ObjectivesThe aim of this article was to estimate HIV prevalence and the factors associated with HIV seropositivity in the population living and working at the informal artisanal small-scale gold mining...