Dziva Chikwari Chido, Kranzer Katharina, Simms Victoria, Patel Amani, Tembo Mandikudza, Mugurungi Owen, Sibanda Edwin, Mufare Onismo, Ndlovu Lilian, Muzangwa Joice, Vundla Rumbidzayi, Chibaya Abigail, Hayes Richard, Mackworth-Young Constance, Bernays Sarah, Mavodza Constancia, Hove Fadzanayi, Bandason Tsitsi, Dauya Ethel, Ferrand Rashida Abbas
The Health Research Unit Zimbabwe, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe.
MRC International Statistics and Epidemiology Group, Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2024 Feb 21;4(2):e0002553. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002553. eCollection 2024.
Youth living with HIV are at higher risk than adults of disengaging from HIV care. Differentiated models of care such as community delivery of antiretroviral therapy (ART) may improve treatment outcomes. We investigated outcomes across the HIV cascade among youth accessing HIV services in a community-based setting. This study was nested in a cluster-randomised controlled trial (CHIEDZA: Clinicaltrials.gov, Registration Number: NCT03719521) conducted in three provinces in Zimbabwe and aimed to investigate the impact of a youth-friendly community-based package of HIV services, integrated with sexual and reproductive health services for youth (16-24 years), on population-level HIV viral load (VL). HIV services included HIV testing, ART initiation and continuous care, VL testing, and adherence support. Overall 377 clients were newly diagnosed with HIV at CHIEDZA, and linkage to HIV care was confirmed for 265 (70.7%, 234 accessed care at CHIEDZA and 31 with other providers); of these 250 (94.3%) started ART. Among those starting ART at CHIEDZA who did not transfer out and had enough follow up time (>6 months), 38% (68/177) were lost-to-follow-up within six months. Viral suppression (HIV Viral Load <1000 copies/ml) among those who had a test at 6 months was 90% (96/107). In addition 1162 clients previously diagnosed with HIV accessed CHIEDZA; 714 (61.4%) had a VL test, of whom 565 (79.1%) were virally suppressed. This study shows that provision of differentiated services for youth in the community is feasible. Linkage to care and retention during the initial months of ART was the main challenge and needs concerted attention to achieve the ambitious 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets.
感染艾滋病毒的青少年比成年人脱离艾滋病毒护理的风险更高。诸如社区提供抗逆转录病毒疗法(ART)等差异化护理模式可能会改善治疗效果。我们调查了在社区环境中获得艾滋病毒服务的青少年在整个艾滋病毒防治流程中的治疗效果。本研究嵌套于在津巴布韦三个省份开展的一项整群随机对照试验(CHIEDZA:Clinicaltrials.gov,注册号:NCT03719521),旨在调查一套对青少年友好的社区艾滋病毒服务包(与针对16至24岁青少年的性健康和生殖健康服务相结合)对人群层面艾滋病毒病毒载量(VL)的影响。艾滋病毒服务包括艾滋病毒检测、开始接受抗逆转录病毒治疗及持续护理、病毒载量检测以及依从性支持。在CHIEDZA,共有377名客户新诊断出感染艾滋病毒,其中265人(70.7%,234人在CHIEDZA接受护理,31人在其他机构接受护理)确认与艾滋病毒护理建立了联系;其中250人(94.3%)开始接受抗逆转录病毒治疗。在CHIEDZA开始接受抗逆转录病毒治疗且未转出且有足够随访时间(>6个月)的患者中,38%(68/177)在六个月内失访。在6个月时进行检测的患者中,病毒抑制(艾滋病毒病毒载量<1000拷贝/毫升)率为90%(96/107)。此外,1162名先前诊断出感染艾滋病毒的客户使用了CHIEDZA的服务;714人(61.4%)进行了病毒载量检测,其中565人(79.1%)实现了病毒抑制。本研究表明,在社区为青少年提供差异化服务是可行的。在抗逆转录病毒治疗的最初几个月中,与护理的联系和留存是主要挑战,需要共同关注以实现联合国艾滋病规划署宏伟的95-95-95目标。