Rates of confirmatory HIV testing, linkage to HIV services, and rapid initiation of antiretroviral treatment among newly diagnosed children living with HIV in Ethiopia: perspectives from caregivers and healthcare workers
Abstract Background Successful linkage to HIV services and initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for children living with HIV (CLHIV) is critical to improve pediatric ART coverage. We aimed to assess confirmatory testing, linkage, and rapid ART initiation among newly diagnosed CLHIV in Ethiop...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2022-12-01
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| Series: | BMC Pediatrics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03784-3 |
| _version_ | 1828083149187317760 |
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| author | Alemayehu Bekele Susan Hrapcak Jelaludin Ahmed Mohammed Jemal Ayalew Yimam Tsegaye Tilahun Tenagnework Antefe Hanna Kumssa Desta Kassa Semegnew Mengistu Kelsey Mirkovic Eric J. Dziuban Zena Belay Christine Ross Wondimu Teferi |
| author_facet | Alemayehu Bekele Susan Hrapcak Jelaludin Ahmed Mohammed Jemal Ayalew Yimam Tsegaye Tilahun Tenagnework Antefe Hanna Kumssa Desta Kassa Semegnew Mengistu Kelsey Mirkovic Eric J. Dziuban Zena Belay Christine Ross Wondimu Teferi |
| author_sort | Alemayehu Bekele |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Successful linkage to HIV services and initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for children living with HIV (CLHIV) is critical to improve pediatric ART coverage. We aimed to assess confirmatory testing, linkage, and rapid ART initiation among newly diagnosed CLHIV in Ethiopia from the perspectives of caregivers and healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods We conducted standardized surveys with HCWs and caregivers of children 2–14 years who were diagnosed with HIV but not yet on ART who had been identified during a cross-sectional study in Ethiopia from May 2017–March 2018. Eight health facilities based on their HIV caseload and testing volume and 21 extension sites were included. Forty-one children, 34 care givers and 40 healthcare workers were included in this study. Three months after study enrollment, caregivers were surveyed about timing and experiences with HIV service enrollment, confirmatory testing, and ART initiation. Data collected from HCWs included perceptions of confirmatory testing in CLHIV before ART initiation. SPSS was used to conduct descriptive statistics. Results The majority of the 41 CLHIV were enrolled to HIV services (n = 34, 83%) and initiated ART by three months (n = 32, 94%). Median time from diagnosis to ART initiation was 12 days (interquartile range 5–18). Five children died before the follow-up interview. Confirmatory HIV testing was conducted in 34 children and found no discordant results; the majority (n = 23, 68%) received it within one week of HIV diagnosis. Almost all HCWs (n = 39/40, 98%) and caregivers (n = 31/34, 91%) felt better/the same about test results after conducting confirmatory testing. Conclusion Opportunities remain to strengthen linkage for newly diagnosed CLHIV in Ethiopia through intensifying early follow-up to ensure prompt confirmatory testing and rapid ART initiation. Additional services could help caregivers with decision-making around treatment initiation for their children. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:05:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-442a407453ac4a2d95686f44ca2f5f73 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2431 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T04:05:01Z |
| publishDate | 2022-12-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-442a407453ac4a2d95686f44ca2f5f732023-01-01T12:27:39ZengBMCBMC Pediatrics1471-24312022-12-0122111010.1186/s12887-022-03784-3Rates of confirmatory HIV testing, linkage to HIV services, and rapid initiation of antiretroviral treatment among newly diagnosed children living with HIV in Ethiopia: perspectives from caregivers and healthcare workersAlemayehu Bekele0Susan Hrapcak1Jelaludin Ahmed Mohammed2Jemal Ayalew Yimam3Tsegaye Tilahun4Tenagnework Antefe5Hanna Kumssa6Desta Kassa7Semegnew Mengistu8Kelsey Mirkovic9Eric J. Dziuban10Zena Belay11Christine Ross12Wondimu Teferi13Ethiopian Public Health AssociationCenters for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionEthiopian Public Health AssociationUnited States Agency for International DevelopmentAmhara Regional Health BureauAddis Ababa City Administration Health BureauEthiopian Public Health InstituteEthiopian Public Health AssociationCenters for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionCenters for Disease Control and PreventionAbstract Background Successful linkage to HIV services and initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) for children living with HIV (CLHIV) is critical to improve pediatric ART coverage. We aimed to assess confirmatory testing, linkage, and rapid ART initiation among newly diagnosed CLHIV in Ethiopia from the perspectives of caregivers and healthcare workers (HCWs). Methods We conducted standardized surveys with HCWs and caregivers of children 2–14 years who were diagnosed with HIV but not yet on ART who had been identified during a cross-sectional study in Ethiopia from May 2017–March 2018. Eight health facilities based on their HIV caseload and testing volume and 21 extension sites were included. Forty-one children, 34 care givers and 40 healthcare workers were included in this study. Three months after study enrollment, caregivers were surveyed about timing and experiences with HIV service enrollment, confirmatory testing, and ART initiation. Data collected from HCWs included perceptions of confirmatory testing in CLHIV before ART initiation. SPSS was used to conduct descriptive statistics. Results The majority of the 41 CLHIV were enrolled to HIV services (n = 34, 83%) and initiated ART by three months (n = 32, 94%). Median time from diagnosis to ART initiation was 12 days (interquartile range 5–18). Five children died before the follow-up interview. Confirmatory HIV testing was conducted in 34 children and found no discordant results; the majority (n = 23, 68%) received it within one week of HIV diagnosis. Almost all HCWs (n = 39/40, 98%) and caregivers (n = 31/34, 91%) felt better/the same about test results after conducting confirmatory testing. Conclusion Opportunities remain to strengthen linkage for newly diagnosed CLHIV in Ethiopia through intensifying early follow-up to ensure prompt confirmatory testing and rapid ART initiation. Additional services could help caregivers with decision-making around treatment initiation for their children.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03784-3ChildrenHIVConfirmatory testingRapid ART initiationEnrollmentLinkage |
| spellingShingle | Alemayehu Bekele Susan Hrapcak Jelaludin Ahmed Mohammed Jemal Ayalew Yimam Tsegaye Tilahun Tenagnework Antefe Hanna Kumssa Desta Kassa Semegnew Mengistu Kelsey Mirkovic Eric J. Dziuban Zena Belay Christine Ross Wondimu Teferi Rates of confirmatory HIV testing, linkage to HIV services, and rapid initiation of antiretroviral treatment among newly diagnosed children living with HIV in Ethiopia: perspectives from caregivers and healthcare workers BMC Pediatrics Children HIV Confirmatory testing Rapid ART initiation Enrollment Linkage |
| title | Rates of confirmatory HIV testing, linkage to HIV services, and rapid initiation of antiretroviral treatment among newly diagnosed children living with HIV in Ethiopia: perspectives from caregivers and healthcare workers |
| title_full | Rates of confirmatory HIV testing, linkage to HIV services, and rapid initiation of antiretroviral treatment among newly diagnosed children living with HIV in Ethiopia: perspectives from caregivers and healthcare workers |
| title_fullStr | Rates of confirmatory HIV testing, linkage to HIV services, and rapid initiation of antiretroviral treatment among newly diagnosed children living with HIV in Ethiopia: perspectives from caregivers and healthcare workers |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rates of confirmatory HIV testing, linkage to HIV services, and rapid initiation of antiretroviral treatment among newly diagnosed children living with HIV in Ethiopia: perspectives from caregivers and healthcare workers |
| title_short | Rates of confirmatory HIV testing, linkage to HIV services, and rapid initiation of antiretroviral treatment among newly diagnosed children living with HIV in Ethiopia: perspectives from caregivers and healthcare workers |
| title_sort | rates of confirmatory hiv testing linkage to hiv services and rapid initiation of antiretroviral treatment among newly diagnosed children living with hiv in ethiopia perspectives from caregivers and healthcare workers |
| topic | Children HIV Confirmatory testing Rapid ART initiation Enrollment Linkage |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-022-03784-3 |
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