Patient retention in antiretroviral therapy programs in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Long-term retention of patients in Africa's rapidly expanding antiretroviral therapy (ART) programs for HIV/AIDS is essential for these programs' success but has received relatively little attention. In this paper we present a systematic review of patient retention in ART programs in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods and findings

We searched Medline, other literature databases, conference abstracts, publications archives, and the "gray literature" (project reports available online) between 2000 and 2007 for reports on the proportion of adult patients retained (i.e., remaining in care and on ART) after 6 mo or longer in sub-Saharan African, non-research ART programs, with and without donor support. Estimated retention rates at 6, 12, and 24 mo were calculated and plotted

SUBMITTER: Rosen S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2020494 | biostudies-literature | 2007 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature