Impact of Universal Antiretroviral Treatment Eligibility on Rapid Treatment Initiation Among Young Adolescents with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Sub-Saharan Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Young adolescents with perinatally acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are at risk for poor care outcomes. We examined whether universal antiretroviral treatment (ART) eligibility policies (Treat All) improved rapid ART initiation after care enrollment among 10-14-year-olds in 7 sub-Saharan African countries.

Methods

Regression discontinuity analysis and data for 6912 patients aged 10-14-years were used to estimate changes in rapid ART initiation (within 30 days of care enrollment) after adoption of Treat All policies in 2 groups of countries: Uganda and Zambia (policy adopted in 2013) and Burundi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Malawi, and Rwanda (policy adopted in 2016).

Results

There were immediate increases in rapid ART initiation amon

SUBMITTER: Tymejczyk O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7530553 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature