The Impact of Drought on HIV Care in Rural South Africa: An Interrupted Time Series Analysis.

ABSTRACT: This analysis investigates the relationship between drought and antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence and retention in HIV care in the Hlabisa sub-district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Data on drought and ART adherence and retention were collated for the study period 2010-2019. Drought was quantified using the 3-month Standard Precipitation Evapotranspiration Index (SPEI) and Standard Precipitation Index (SPI) from station data. Adherence, proxied by the Medication Possession Ratio (MPR), and retention data were obtained from the public ART programme database. MPR and retention were calculated from individuals aged 15-59 years who initiated ART between January 2010 and December 2018 and visited clinic through February 2019. Between 01 January 2010 and 31 December 2018, 40,714 individua

SUBMITTER: Iwuji CC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10613144 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature