Integrating depression management into HIV primary care in central Malawi: the implementation of a pilot capacity building program.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Malawi, early retention in HIV care remains challenging. Depression is strongly associated with reduced anti-retroviral therapy (ART) adherence and viral suppression. Appropriate depression care for people initiating ART is likely to be supportive of early and continued engagement in the HIV care continuum. This paper aims to provide an overview of a task-shifting program that integrates depression screening and treatment into HIV care and the strategy used to evaluate this program, describes the implementation process, and discusses key challenges and lessons learned in the first phase of program implementation.

Methods

We are implementing a program integrating depression screening and treatment into HIV care initiation at two clinics in Lilongwe District, Mal

SUBMITTER: Udedi M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6069990 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature