The effect of complete integration of HIV and TB services on time to initiation of antiretroviral therapy: a before-after study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Studies have shown that early ART initiation in TB/HIV co-infected patients lowers mortality. One way to implement earlier ART commencement could be through integration of TB and HIV services, a more efficient model of care than separate, vertical programs. We present a model of full TB/HIV integration and estimate its effect on time to initiation of ART.

Methodology/principal findings

We retrospectively reviewed TB registers and clinical notes of 209 TB/HIV co-infected adults with a CD4 count <250 cells/µl and registered for TB treatment at one primary care clinic in a South African township between June 2008 and May 2009. Using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazard analysis, we compared time between initiation of TB treatment and ART for the periods before an

SUBMITTER: Kerschberger B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3465310 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature