Linkage into care among newly diagnosed HIV-positive individuals tested through outreach and facility-based HIV testing models in Mbeya, Tanzania: a prospective mixed-method cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Linkage to care is the bridge between HIV testing and HIV treatment, care and support. In Tanzania, mobile testing aims to address historically low testing rates. Linkage to care was reported at 14% in 2009 and 28% in 2014. The study compares linkage to care of HIV-positive individuals tested at mobile/outreach versus public health facility-based services within the first 6 months of HIV diagnosis.

Setting

Rural communities in four districts of Mbeya Region, Tanzania.

Participants

A total of 1012 newly diagnosed HIV-positive adults from 16 testing facilities were enrolled into a two-armed cohort and followed for 6 months between August 2014 and July 2015. 840 (83%) participants completed the study.

Main outcome measures

We compared the ratios and time

SUBMITTER: Sanga ES 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5541440 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature