Outcomes After Being Lost to Follow-up Differ for Pregnant and Postpartum Women When Compared With the General HIV Treatment Population in Rural South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Undetermined attrition prohibits full understanding of the coverage and effectiveness of HIV programs. Outcomes following loss to follow-up (LTFU) among antiretroviral therapy (ART) patients may differ according to their reasons for ART initiation.

Setting

We compare the true outcomes of adult patients previously identified as LTFU by reason for ART initiation in 8 health facilities in north eastern South Africa.

Methods

Adult HIV patient records were linked to health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS) data from 2014 to 2017. Outcomes of adults categorized as LTFU (>90 days late for the last scheduled clinic visit) were determined through clinic and routine tracing record reviews, consultation of HDSS data, and supplementary tracing. We calculated t

SUBMITTER: Etoori D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7495979 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature