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Abdul R, Rinke de Wit TF, Martelli G, Costigan K, Katambi P, Pozniak A, Maokola W, Mfinanga S, Hermans S. Stability in care and risk of loss to follow-up among clients receiving community health worker-led differentiated HIV care: Results from a prospective cohort study in northern Tanzania. Trop Med Int Health 2024; 29:309-318. [PMID: 38279832 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV services in Tanzania are facility-based but facilities are often overcrowded. Differentiated care models (DCM) have been introduced into the National Guidelines. We piloted a Community Health Worker (CHW)-led HIV treatment club model (CHW-DCM) in an urban region, and assessed its effectiveness in comparison to the standard of care (SoC, facility-based model), in terms of stability in care, loss to follow-up (LTFU) and treatment adherence. METHODS In two clinics in the Shinyanga region, clients established on ART (defined as stable clients by national guidelines as on first-line ART >6 months, undetectable viral load, no opportunistic infections or pregnancy, and good adherence) were offered CHW-DCM. This prospective cohort study included all stable clients who enrolled in CHW-DCM between July 2018 and March 2020 (CHW-DCM) and compared them to stable clients who remained in SoC during that period. Multivariable Cox regression models were used to analyse factors associated with continued stability in care and the risk of LTFU during 18 months of follow-up; treatment adherence was assessed by pill count and compared using Chi-square tests. RESULTS Of 2472 stable clients, 24.5% received CHW-DCM and 75.5% SoC. CHW-DCM clients were slightly older (mean 42.8 vs. 37.9 years) and more likely to be female (36.2% vs. 32.2%). Treatment adherence was better among CHW-DCM than SoC: 96.6% versus 91.9% and 98.5% versus 92.2%, respectively (both p = 0.001). SoC clients were more likely to not remain stable over time than CHW-DCM (adjusted Hazard ratio [AHR] = 2.68; 95% CI: 1.86-3.90). There was no difference in LTFU (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR] = 1.54; 95%CI: 0.82-2.93). CONCLUSION Clients attending CHW-DCM demonstrated better stability in care and treatment adherence than SoC, and the risk of LTFU was not increased. These findings demonstrate the potential of CHW in delivering community-based HIV services in the local Tanzanian context. These results could be used to extend this CHW-DCM model to similar settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramadhani Abdul
- Department of Global Health, Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tobias F Rinke de Wit
- Department of Global Health, Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Giulia Martelli
- Infectious Diseases Unit, AUSL Romagna, Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital, Doctors with Africa CUAMM IT, Forlí, Italy
| | | | | | - Anton Pozniak
- Department of HIV, London, UK
- Department of Clinical Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Werner Maokola
- Strategic Information Unit, National AIDS, STIs and Hepatitis Control Program, Ministry of Health, Dodoma, Tanzania
| | - Sayoki Mfinanga
- Research Department, National Institute for Medical Research (NIMR)-Muhimbili Centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Department of Epidemiology, Alliance for Africa Health Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Muhimbili University of Health, and Allied Science, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Sabine Hermans
- Department of Global Health, Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam UMC, location University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Abdul R, de Wit TFR, Martelli G, Costigan K, Katambi P, Mllacha P, Pozniak A, Maokola W, Mfinanga S, Hermans S. Effectiveness of provider-initiated versus client-initiated HIV testing by different health facility departments in Northern Tanzania. AIDS Res Ther 2023; 20:44. [PMID: 37420276 PMCID: PMC10329383 DOI: 10.1186/s12981-023-00541-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HIV prevalence in Tanzania is still high at 4.7% among adults. Regular HIV testing is consistently advocated in the country to increase the level of awareness of HIV status, thus contributing to national HIV prevention. We report findings from three years of implementation of an HIV Test and Treat project utilizing provider-initiated and client-initiated testing and counselling (PITC and CITC). This study compared the effectiveness of PITC versus CITC in HIV case detection by the different departments of health facilities. METHOD This retrospective cross-sectional study used health facility-based HIV testing data collected from adults aged 18 years and above between June 2017 - July 2019 in the Shinyanga region, Tanzania. Chi-square and logistic regression analysis were used to assess determinants of yield (HIV positivity). RESULTS A total of 24,802 HIV tests were performed of which 15,814 (63.8%) were by PITC and 8,987 (36.2%) by CITC. Overall HIV positivity was 5.7%, higher among CITC at 6.6% than PITC at 5.2%. TB and IPD departments had the highest HIV positivity 11.8% and 7.8% respectively. Factors associated with a positive test were testing at a department in the facility compared to CITC, first-time test, and being or having been married compared to being single. CONCLUSION Success in identifying HIV + patients was highest among people visiting the clinic for HIV testing (CITC) and first-time testers. With PITC, HIV + patient detection differed between departments, suggesting divergent risk profiles of respective clients and/or divergent HIV alertness of staff. This underscores the importance of increased targeting for PITC to identify HIV + patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramadhani Abdul
- Amsterdam UMC, Department University of Amsterdam, Department of Global Health, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Tobias F Rinke de Wit
- Amsterdam UMC, Department University of Amsterdam, Department of Global Health, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Giulia Martelli
- Infectious Diseases Unit, AUSL Romagna, Morgagni Pierantoni Hospital Forlí, Doctors with Africa CUAMM IT, Forlí, Italy
| | | | | | - Peter Mllacha
- Shinyanga Regional Referal Hospital, Shinyanga, Tanzania
| | - Anton Pozniak
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and LSHTM, London, UK
| | | | - Sayoki Mfinanga
- National Institute for Medical Research(NIMR)-Muhimbili centre, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
- Alliance for Africa Health Research, Nairobi, Kenya
- School of Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Statistics, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Sabine Hermans
- Amsterdam UMC, Department University of Amsterdam, Department of Global Health, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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Okere NE, Censi V, Machibya C, Costigan K, Katambi P, Martelli G, de Klerk J, Hermans S, Gomez GB, Pozniak A, de Wit TR, Naniche D. Beyond viral suppression: Quality of life among stable ART clients in a differentiated service delivery intervention in Tanzania. Qual Life Res 2021; 31:159-170. [PMID: 34052956 PMCID: PMC8800900 DOI: 10.1007/s11136-021-02889-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND With antiretroviral therapy, more people living with HIV (PLHIV) in resource-limited settings are virally suppressed and living longer. WHO recommends differentiated service delivery (DSD) as an alternative, less resource-demanding way of expanding HIV services access. Monitoring client's health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is necessary to understand patients' perceptions of treatment and services but is understudied in sub-Saharan Africa. We assessed HRQoL among ART clients in Tanzania accessing two service models. METHODS Cross-sectional survey from May-August 2019 among stable ART clients randomly sampled from clinics and clubs in the Shinyanga region providing DSD and clinic-based care. HRQoL data were collected using a validated HIV-specific instrument-Functional Assessment of HIV infection (FAHI), in addition to socio-demographic, HIV care, and service accessibility data. Descriptive analysis of HRQoL, logistic regression and a stepwise multiple linear regression were performed to examine HRQoL determinants. RESULTS 629 participants were enrolled, of which 40% accessed DSD. Similar HRQoL scores [mean (SD), p-value]; FAHI total [152.2 (22.2) vs 153.8 (20.6), p 0.687] were observed among DSD and clinic-based care participants. Accessibility factors contributed more to emotional wellbeing among DSD participants compared to the clinic-based care participants (53.4% vs 18.5%, p = < 0.001). Satisfactory (> 80% of maximum score) HRQoL scoring was associated with (OR [95% CI], p-value) being male (2.59 [1.36-4.92], p 0.004) among clinic participants and with urban residence (4.72 [1.70-13.1], p 0.001) among DSD participants. CONCLUSIONS Similar HRQoL was observed in DSD and clinic-based care. Our research highlights focus areas to identify supporting interventions, ultimately optimizing HRQoL among PLHIV.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nwanneka Ebelechukwu Okere
- Department of Global Health, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
| | - Veronica Censi
- Doctors with Africa (CUAMM), Test & Treat Project Shinyanga, Shinyanga, Tanzania
| | | | - Kathleen Costigan
- Bugisi Health Centre, Catholic Diocese of Shinyanga, Shinyanga, Tanzania
| | - P Katambi
- Ngokolo Health Centre, Catholic Diocese of Shinyanga, Shinyanga, Tanzania
| | - Giulia Martelli
- Doctors with Africa (CUAMM), Test & Treat Project Shinyanga, Shinyanga, Tanzania
| | - Josien de Klerk
- Department of Global Health, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Sabine Hermans
- Department of Global Health, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Gabriela B Gomez
- Department of Global Health and Development London School of Health and Tropical Medicine United Kingdom, London, UK
| | - Anton Pozniak
- Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Tobias Rinke de Wit
- Department of Global Health, Amsterdam Institute for Global Health and Development, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Denise Naniche
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
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