Retention in care among clinically stable antiretroviral therapy patients following a six-monthly clinical consultation schedule: findings from a cohort study in rural Malawi.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Longer intervals between clinic consultations for clinically stable antiretroviral therapy (ART) patients may improve retention in care and reduce facility workload. We assessed long-term retention among clinically stable ART patients attending six-monthly clinical consultations (SMCC) with three-monthly fast-track drug refills, and estimated the number of consultations "saved" by this model of ART delivery in rural Malawi.

Methods

Stable patients (aged ≥18 years, on first-line ART ≥12 months, CD4 count ≥300 cells/mL³ , without opportunistic infections, not pregnant/breastfeeding) were eligible for SMCC, with three-monthly drug refills from community health workers. Early enrollees were those starting SMCC within six months of eligibility, while late

SUBMITTER: Wringe A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6240757 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature