Impact of early antiretroviral therapy eligibility on HIV acquisition: household-level evidence from rural South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

We investigate the effect of immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) eligibility on HIV incidence among HIV-uninfected household members.

Design

Regression discontinuity study arising from a population-based cohort.

Methods

Household members of patients seeking care at the Hlabisa HIV Treatment and Care Programme in rural KwaZulu-Natal South Africa between January 2007 and August 2011 with CD4 cell counts up to 350 cells/μl were eligible for inclusion if they had at least two HIV tests and were HIV-uninfected at the time the index patient linked to care (N = 4115). Regression discontinuity was used to assess the intention-to-treat effect of immediate versus delayed ART eligibility on HIV incidence among household members. Exploiting the CD4 cell count-based

SUBMITTER: Oldenburg CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5832606 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature