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Maclaren AS, Locock L, Skea Z, Skåtun D, Wilson P. Rurality, healthcare and crises: Investigating experiences, differences, and changes to medical care for people living in rural areas. Health Place 2024; 87:103217. [PMID: 38493657 DOI: 10.1016/j.healthplace.2024.103217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 02/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Healthcare provision in rural areas is a global challenge, characterised by a dispersed patient population, difficulties in the recruitment and retention of healthcare professionals and a physical distance from hospital care. This research brings together both public and doctor perspectives to explore the experience of healthcare across rural Scotland, against the backdrop of contemporary crises, including a global pandemic and extreme weather events. We draw on two studies on rural healthcare provision to understand how healthcare services have been experienced, changed and might move on after periods of short- and longer-term change caused by such crises. We highlight the importance of communicating service changes to aid in setting healthcare expectations and advocate a mixed approach to the introduction of digital solutions to best balance access to services in rural areas with the challenges of digital connectivity and literacy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Maclaren
- Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, UK; Institute of Applied Health Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Foresterhill, Aberdeen, AB24 3UF, UK.
| | - Louise Locock
- University of Aberdeen, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Health Services Research Unit, Aberdeen, UK.
| | - Zoë Skea
- University of Aberdeen, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Health Services Research Unit, Aberdeen, UK.
| | - Diane Skåtun
- University of Aberdeen, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Health Economics Research Unit, Aberdeen, UK
| | - Philip Wilson
- University of Aberdeen, Institute of Applied Health Sciences, Centre for Rural Health, Inverness, UK.
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Fu W, McClymont E, Av-Gay G, Dorling M, Atkinson A, Azampanah A, Elwood C, Sauvé L, van Schalkwyk J, Sotindjo T, Money D. Retrospective Cohort Study on the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnancy Outcomes for Women Living With HIV in British Columbia. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2024; 95:411-416. [PMID: 38489490 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0000000000003384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND For pregnant women living with HIV (WLWH), engagement in care is crucial to maternal health and reducing the risk of perinatal transmission. To date, there have been no studies in Canada examining the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pregnant WLWH. METHODS This was a retrospective cohort study assessing the impact of the pandemic on perinatal outcomes for pregnant WLWH using data from the Perinatal HIV Surveillance Program in British Columbia, Canada. We compared maternal characteristics, pregnancy outcomes, and clinical indicators related to engagement with care between a prepandemic (January 2017-March 2020) and pandemic cohort (March 2020-December 2022). We investigated preterm birth rates with explanatory variables using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS The prepandemic cohort (n = 87) had a significantly (P < 0.05) lower gestational age at the first antenatal encounter (9.0 vs 11.8) and lower rates of preterm births compared with the pandemic cohort (n = 56; 15% vs 37%). Adjusted odds of preterm birth increased with the presence of substance use in pregnancy (aOR = 10.45, 95% confidence interval: 2.19 to 49.94) in WLWH. There were 2 cases of perinatal transmission of HIV in the pandemic cohort, whereas the prepandemic cohort had none. CONCLUSIONS The pandemic had pronounced effects on pregnant WLWH and their infants in British Columbia including higher rates of preterm birth and higher gestational age at the first antenatal encounter. The nonstatistically significant increase in perinatal transmission rates is of high clinical importance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Winnie Fu
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; and
| | - Elisabeth McClymont
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; and
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Gal Av-Gay
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; and
| | - Marisa Dorling
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; and
| | - Andrea Atkinson
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | | | - Chelsea Elwood
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; and
| | - Laura Sauvé
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Julie van Schalkwyk
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; and
| | - Tatiana Sotindjo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Deborah Money
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
- Women's Health Research Institute, Vancouver, Canada; and
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Burke RM, Rickman HM, Pinto C, Ehrenkranz P, Choko A, Ford N. Reasons for disengagement from antiretroviral care in the era of "Treat All" in low- or middle-income countries: a systematic review. J Int AIDS Soc 2024; 27:e26230. [PMID: 38494657 PMCID: PMC10945039 DOI: 10.1002/jia2.26230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Disengagement from antiretroviral therapy (ART) care is an important reason why people living with HIV do not achieve viral load suppression become unwell. METHODS We searched two databases and conference abstracts from January 2015 to December 2022 for studies which reported reasons for disengagement from ART care. We included quantitative (mainly surveys) and qualitative (in-depth interviews or focus groups) studies conducted after "treat all" or "Option B+" policy adoption. We used an inductive approach to categorize reasons: we report how often reasons were reported in studies and developed a conceptual framework for reasons. RESULTS We identified 21 studies which reported reasons for disengaging from ART care in the "Treat All" era, mostly in African countries: six studies in the general population of persons living with HIV, nine in pregnant or postpartum women and six in selected populations (one each in people who use drugs, isolated indigenous communities, men, women, adolescents and men who have sex with men). Reasons reported were: side effects or other antiretroviral tablet issues (15 studies); lack of perceived benefit of ART (13 studies); psychological, mental health or drug use (13 studies); concerns about stigma or confidentiality (14 studies); lack of social or family support (12 studies); socio-economic reasons (16 studies); health facility-related reasons (11 studies); and acute proximal events such as unexpected mobility (12 studies). The most common reasons for disengagement were unexpected events, socio-economic reasons, ART side effects or lack of perceived benefit of ART. Conceptually, studies described underlying vulnerability factors (individual, interpersonal, structural and healthcare) but that often unexpected proximal events (e.g. unanticipated mobility) acted as the trigger for disengagement to occur. DISCUSSION People disengage from ART care for individual, interpersonal, structural and healthcare reasons, and these reasons overlap and interact with each other. While HIV programmes cannot predict and address all events that may lead to disengagement, an approach that recognizes that such shocks will happen could help. CONCLUSIONS Health services should focus on ways to encourage clients to engage with care by making ART services welcoming, person-centred and more flexible alongside offering adherence interventions, such as counselling and peer support.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachael M. Burke
- Clinical Research DepartmentLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research ProgrammeQueen Elizabeth Central HospitalBlantyreMalawi
| | - Hannah M. Rickman
- Clinical Research DepartmentLondon School of Hygiene and Tropical MedicineLondonUK
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research ProgrammeQueen Elizabeth Central HospitalBlantyreMalawi
| | - Clarice Pinto
- Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs ProgrammeWorld Health OrganisationGenevaSwitzerland
| | - Peter Ehrenkranz
- Global Health, Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Augustine Choko
- Malawi Liverpool Wellcome Clinical Research ProgrammeQueen Elizabeth Central HospitalBlantyreMalawi
- International Public Health DepartmentLiverpool School of Tropical MedicineLiverpoolUK
| | - Nathan Ford
- Global HIV, Hepatitis and STIs ProgrammeWorld Health OrganisationGenevaSwitzerland
- Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and ResearchSchool of Public Health and Family MedicineFaculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Cape TownCape TownSouth Africa
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Maraghi E, Abolnezhadian F, Montazeri A, Karimy M, Jaafarzadeh N, Abdullatif Khafaie M, Stein L, Araban M. Characteristics of People Who Do Not Disclose Positive COVID-19 Infection. Med J Islam Repub Iran 2023; 37:64. [PMID: 37457422 PMCID: PMC10349354 DOI: 10.47176/mjiri.37.64] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Elham Maraghi
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of
Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Farhad Abolnezhadian
- Division of Immunology and Allergy, Department of Pediatrics, Abuzar Children’s
Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Ali Montazeri
- Population Health Research Group, Health Metrics Research Center, Iranian
Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mahmood Karimy
- Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Saveh University of Medical
Sciences, Saveh, Iran
| | - Neemat Jaafarzadeh
- Environmental Technologies Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of
Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | | | - Lar Stein
- Department of Psychology, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, USA,
; Center for Alc/ Addic Studies, School of Public Health, Brown University,
Providence, RI, USA; Dept of Behavioral Healthcare, Hospitals & Developmental
Disabilities, Cranston, RI, USA
| | - Marzieh Araban
- Menopause & Andropause Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of
Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Department of Health Education and Promotion, Public Health School, Ahvaz
Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
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Jackson-Gibson M, Diseko M, Caniglia EC, Mayondi G, Mabuta J, Luckett R, Moyo S, Lawrence P, Matshaba M, Mosepele M, Mmalane M, Banga J, Lockman S, Makhema J, Zash R, Shapiro RL. Association of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection With Maternal Mortality and Neonatal Birth Outcomes in Botswana by Human Immunodeficiency Virus Status. Obstet Gynecol 2023; 141:135-143. [PMID: 36701614 PMCID: PMC10462386 DOI: 10.1097/aog.0000000000005020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the combined association of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection on adverse birth outcomes in an HIV-endemic region. METHODS The Tsepamo Study abstracts data from antenatal and obstetric records in government maternity wards across Botswana. We assessed maternal mortality and adverse birth outcomes for all singleton pregnancies from September 2020 to mid-November 2021 at 13 Tsepamo sites among individuals with documented SARS-CoV-2 screening tests and known HIV status. RESULTS Of 20,410 individuals who gave birth, 11,483 (56.3%) were screened for SARS-CoV-2 infection; 4.7% tested positive. People living with HIV were more likely to test positive (144/2,421, 5.9%) than those without HIV (392/9,030, 4.3%) (P=.001). Maternal deaths occurred in 3.7% of those who had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result compared with 0.1% of those who tested negative (adjusted relative risk [aRR] 31.6, 95% CI 15.4-64.7). Maternal mortality did not differ by HIV status. The offspring of individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection experienced more overall adverse birth outcomes (34.5% vs 26.6%; aRR 1.2, 95% CI 1.1-1.4), severe adverse birth outcomes (13.6% vs 9.8%; aRR 1.2, 95% CI 1.0-1.5), preterm delivery (21.4% vs 13.4%; aRR 1.4, 95% CI 1.2-1.7), and stillbirth (5.6% vs 2.7%; aRR 1.7 95% CI 1.2-2.5). Neonates exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and HIV infection had the highest prevalence of adverse birth outcomes (43.1% vs 22.6%; aRR 1.7, 95% CI 1.4-2.0). CONCLUSION Infection with SARS-CoV-2 at the time of delivery was associated with 3.7% maternal mortality and 5.6% stillbirth in Botswana. Most adverse birth outcomes were worse among neonates exposed to both SARS-CoV-2 and HIV infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Modiegi Diseko
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | | | - Gloria Mayondi
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Judith Mabuta
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Rebecca Luckett
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Sikhulile Moyo
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Pamela Lawrence
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Mogomotsi Matshaba
- Ministry of Health and Wellness, Gaborone, Botswana
- Botswana-Baylor Children’s Clinical Centre of Excellence, Gaborone, Botswana
| | | | - Mompati Mmalane
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Jaspreet Banga
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Shahin Lockman
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Joseph Makhema
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Rebecca Zash
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Roger L. Shapiro
- Botswana Harvard AIDS Institute Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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HIV care experiences and health priorities during the first wave of COVID-19: clients' perspectives - a qualitative study in Lusaka, Zambia. BMC Public Health 2022; 22:2238. [PMID: 36451158 PMCID: PMC9713144 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-022-14493-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 10/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The novel COVID-19 pandemic threatened to disrupt access to human immunodeficiency (HIV) treatment for persons living with HIV (PLHIV), two-thirds of whom live in sub-Saharan Africa. To inform a health system response supportive of continuity of care, we sought to understand clients' HIV care experiences and health priorities during the first wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Lusaka, Zambia. METHODS Leveraging a study cohort of those who completed periodic SMS surveys on HIV care, we purposefully sampled 25 PLHIV after first confirmed COVID-19 case was reported in Zambia on 18th March 2020. We phone-interviewed participants, iteratively refining interview guide to capture emergent themes on COVID-19 awareness, health facility interactions, and social circumstances, which we analyzed using matrix analysis. RESULTS All participants were aware of COVID-19, and HIV care experiences and health priorities of clients were affected by associated changes at health system, household, and individual level. The health system instituted early clinic visits to provide 6-months of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for stable patients and 3-months for unstable patients to reduce clinic visits and wait times. Most patients welcomed this long-desired extended appointment spacing. Some reported feeling respected and engaged when health care workers telephoned requesting their early clinic visit. However, others felt discouraged by an absence of physical distancing during their clinic visit due to 'severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2' (SARS-CoV-2) infection concerns. Several expressed a lack of clarity regarding next viral load monitoring date and means for receiving results. Patients suggested regular patient-facility communication by telephone and SMS. Patients emphasized that COVID-19 restrictions led to loss of employment and household income, exacerbating poverty and difficulties in taking ART. At individual level, most participants felt motivated to stay healthy during COVID-19 by ART adherence and regular laboratory monitoring. CONCLUSIONS Clients' HIV care and health priorities during the first wave of COVID-19 in Lusaka province were varied with a combination of positive and negative experiences that occurred especially at health system and individual levels, while at household level, the experiences were all negative. More research is needed to understand how patients practice resiliency in the widespread context of socio-economic instability. Governments and patients must work together to find local, health systems solutions to support ART adherence and monitoring. Additionally, the health system should consider how to build on changes for long-term HIV management and service delivery.
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Mungmunpuntipantip R, Wiwanitkit V. COVID-19 and Disruptions to HIV Testing and Prevention. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2022; 51:3663. [PMID: 36201143 PMCID: PMC9540159 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-022-02435-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2021] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Viroj Wiwanitkit
- Department of Community Medicine, Dr DY Patil Medical College, Pune, India
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Izudi J, Kiragga AN, Kalyesubula P, Okoboi S, Castelnuovo B. Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on outcomes of HIV care among adults in Uganda. Medicine (Baltimore) 2022; 101:e30282. [PMID: 36086721 PMCID: PMC10980429 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000030282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Uganda enforced several stringent restrictions such as night-time curfews, travel bans, school closure, and physical and social distancing among others that constituted a national lockdown to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). These restrictions disrupted the delivery of health services but the impact on outcomes of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care has not been rigorously studied. We evaluated the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on outcomes of HIV care among people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged ≥15 years in Kampala, Uganda. We designed a nonrandomized, quasi-experimental study using observational data retrieved from six large HIV clinics and used the data to construct two cohorts: a comparison cohort nonexposed to the restrictions and an exposed cohort that experienced the restrictions. The comparison cohort consisted of PLHIV commenced on anti-retroviral therapy (ART) between March 1, 2018, and February 28, 2019, followed for ≥1 year with outcomes assessed in March 2020, just before the restrictions were imposed. The exposed cohort comprised of PLHIV started on ART between March 1, 2019, and February 28, 2020, followed for ≥1 year with outcomes assessed in June 2021. The primary outcomes are retention, viral load testing, viral load suppression, and mortality. We employed inverse probability of treatment weighting using propensity score (IPTW-PS) to achieve comparability between the two cohorts on selected covariates. We estimated the effect of the restriction on the outcomes using logistic regression analysis weighted by propensity scores (PS), reported as odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). We analyzed data for nine, 952 participants, with 5094 (51.2%) in the exposed group. The overall mean age was 32.7 ± 8.8 years. In the exposed group relative to the comparison group, viral load testing (OR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.59-1.78) and viral load suppression (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.110-1.63) increased while retention (OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.70-0.81) and mortality (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.64-0.88) reduced. Among PLHIV in Kampala, Uganda, viral load testing and suppression improved while retention and mortality reduced during the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions due to new approaches to ART delivery and the scale-up of existing ART delivery models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Izudi
- Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Community Health, Faculty of Medicine, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
- Data Science and Evaluations (DSE) Unit, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Agnes N. Kiragga
- Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- Data Science and Evaluations (DSE) Unit, African Population and Health Research Center (APHRC), Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Philip Kalyesubula
- Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Stephen Okoboi
- Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Barbara Castelnuovo
- Infectious Diseases Institute (IDI), Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
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