Differentiated care for youth in Zimbabwe

Outcomes across the HIV care cascade

Bibliographic Data

ID19590657
AuthorsChido Dziva Chikwari (0000-0003-1617-3603, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Katharina Kranzer (0000-0001-5691-7270, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Victoria Simms (0000-0001-5664-6810, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Amani Patel (0000-0003-0580-0288, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Mandikudza Tembo (0000-0002-4520-3317, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Owen Mugurungi (0000-0001-7779-5583, Ministry of Health and Child Welfare, corresponding author), Edwin Sibanda (Mpilo Central Hospital, corresponding author), Onismo Mufare (Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Lilian Ndlovu (Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Joice Muzangwa (Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Rumbidzayi Vundla (Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Abigail Chibaya (Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Renée Hayes (0000-0002-1729-9892, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Constance R Smackworth-Young (0000-0002-9725-7931, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Constance Mackworth-Young, Bernay (0000-0001-7628-8408, The University of Sydney, corresponding author), Constancia Vimbayi Mavodza (0000-0003-1651-5888, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author), Constancia Mavodza, Fadzanayi Hove (Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Tsitsi Bandason (0000-0003-0066-8345, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Ethel Dauya (0000-0003-3241-2512, Biomedical Research and Training Institute, corresponding author), Rashida A Ferrand (0000-0002-7660-9176, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, corresponding author)
EditorsJohn M Francis (0000-0003-1902-2683)
Year2024
Volume4
Issue2
Pagese0002553
Publication date2024-02-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePLOS Global Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2767-3375 • E-ISSN: 2767-3375
PublisherPublic Library of Science (PLoS) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1371/journal.pgph.0002553
PMID38381752
OpenAlexW4391993797
LanguageEN
References cited26

Youth living with HIV are at higher risk than adults of disengaging from HIV care. Differentiated models of care such as community delivery of antiretroviral therapy (ART) may improve treatment outcomes. We investigated outcomes across the HIV cascade among youth accessing HIV services in a community-based setting. This study was nested in a cluster-randomised controlled trial (CHIEDZA: Clinicaltrials.gov, Registration Number: NCT03719521) conducted in three provinces in Zimbabwe and aimed to investigate the impact of a youth-friendly community-based package of HIV services, integrated with sexual and reproductive health services for youth (16–24 years), on population-level HIV viral load (VL). HIV services included HIV testing, ART initiation and continuous care, VL testing, and adherence support. Overall 377 clients were newly diagnosed with HIV at CHIEDZA, and linkage to HIV care was confirmed for 265 (70.7%, 234 accessed care at CHIEDZA and 31 with other providers); of these 250 (94.3%) started ART. Among those starting ART at CHIEDZA who did not transfer out and had enough follow up time (>6 months), 38% (68/177) were lost-to-follow-up within six months. Viral suppression (HIV Viral Load

Antiretroviral therapy · Environmental health · Family medicine · Health care · Population · Viral load · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions · Medicine · Gerontology