HIV/AIDS

Addressing Unmet Need for Contraception among HIV - positive Women

A facility-based endline survey was conducted as part of a program evaluation to assess the Arise—Enhancing HIV Prevention for At-Risk-Populations project in Uganda. The base
line and endline surveys used the same approach, interviewing women aged 15–49 years who
sought HIV care and treatment at a sample of health facilities covered by Arise. [adapted from summary]

The Role of Law and Governance Reform in the Global Response to Non-Communicable Diseases

This paper reviews the role of law and governance reform in that process. We highlight the need for a comprehensive approach that is grounded in the right to health and addresses three aspects: preventing NCDs and their risk factors, improving access to NCD treatments, and addressing the social impacts of illness. [from abstract]

Work Experience, Job-Fulfillment and Burnout among VMMC Providers in Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Zimbabwe

This analysis examines this issue of performance and attrition in [voluntary medical male circumcision] programs by looking descriptively at job-fulfillment and burnout. [from introduction]

Holding a National Summit to Improve Health Outcomes through Health and Mapping Sector Collaboration in the Development of National Geospatial Data Infrastructure: The Nigerian Strategy

This paper provides a description of the summit and offers lessons learned on key aspects of the event, including the post-summit communiqué presented to both executive and legislative arms of the government with the intent of improving the NGDI. This paper also discusses progress on health and mapping sector collaboration and coordination since the summit.[from abstract]

Palliative Care in Enugu, Nigeria: Challenges to a New Practice

The aim of this article is to present a view of the challenges encountered by us as we established the Pain and Palliative Care Unit of our hospital and to give suggestions and recommendations to leaders and policymakers in emerging and developing economies around the world on how best to encourage and promote the field of palliative care. [from introduction]

Pain Control in the African Context: the Ugandan Introduction of Affordable Morphine to Relieve Suffering at the End of Life

This paper offers an example of a highly effective and cost efficient model of care that has transformed the ability to humanely manage the problems of those with terminal illness, and to offer a culturally appropriate “good death”. [from abstract]

Mobile Technology for Health

Mobile phones have advantages when used in health programs for youth, as youth in general are responsive to and excited about using new technologies. [from introduction]

Assessing the Relevance, Efficiency, and Sustainability of HIV/AIDS In-Service Training in Nigeria

Using the IST Improvement Framework, developed by the USAID Applying Sciences to Strengthen and Improve Systems Project (ASSIST), as a guide, the authors developed a survey tool to assess the efficiency, effectiveness and sustainability of IST provided between January 2007 and July 2012 by PEPFAR-funded implementing partners in Nigeria. [from abstract]

'My Dreams Are Shuttered Down And It Hurts Lots’ – A Qualitative Study of Palliative Care Needs and Their Management by HIV Outpatient Services in Kenya and Uganda

Despite the huge burden of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, there is little evidence of the multidimensional needs of patients with HIV infection to inform the person-centred care across physical, psychological, social and spiritual domains stipulated in policy guidance. We aimed to describe the problems experienced by people with HIV in Kenya and Uganda and the management of these problems by HIV outpatient services. [from abstract]

Analysis of Human Resources for Health Strategies and Policies in 5 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa, in Response to GFATM and PEPFAR-funded HIV-activities

A multi-country study was conducted from 2007 to 2011 in 5 countries (Angola, Burundi, Lesotho, Mozambique and South Africa), to assess the impact of GHIs on the health system, using a mixed methods design. This paper focuses on the impact of GFATM and PEPFAR on HRH policies. [from abstract]

Preservice Laboratory Education Strengthening Enhances Sustainable Laboratory Workforce in Ethiopia

An assessment of existing preservice education of five medical laboratory schools, followed by remedial intervention and monitoring was conducted.[from abstract]

Engaging People Living With HIV as Lay Counsellors in HIV Care and Treatment Services: Experiences in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

This document summarises the key components of the lay counsellors programme that have contributed to its success, such as careful recruitment practices and recognition of lay counsellors as valued members of health-care teams. Also highlighted are specific steps that support the use of people living with HIV as lay counsellors and parameters regarding how to monitor the impact of this work. [from summary]

Sharing Tasks Among Health Care Workers in Uganda to Integrate Rapid Syphilis Testing in PMTCT Services

This article outlines a study to assess the feasibility, acceptability, and cost-effectiveness of introducing rapid syphilis tests for same-day testing and treatment of syphilis at established prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) sites in Uganda. [from author]

Cost-Effectiveness of Facility and Home Based HIV Voluntary Counseling and Testing Strategies in Rural Uganda

This article evaluates the cost effectiveness of facility-and home-based voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) utilizing community health workers with the primary outcome measure of extra cost per HIV sero-positive case identified to help for health service managers at primary care level in making decisions on suitable alternatives for VCT provision in rural communities in Uganda based on operational efficiency. [adapted from author]

Exploring the Effects of Task Shifting for HIV through a Systems Thinking Lens: The Case of Burkina Faso

This study aims to conceptualize the wider range of effects of task shifting through a systems thinking lens and to explore these effects using task shifting for HIV in Burkina Faso as a case study. [adapted from abstract]

Evaluating Traditional Healers Knowledge and Practices Related to HIV Testing and Treatment in South Africa

In a context of inadequate human resources for health, this study investigated whether traditional healers have the knowledge and skill base which could be utilized to assist in the scaling up of HIV prevention and treatment services in South Africa. [from abstract]

Client-Provider Interactions in Provider-Initiated and Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing Services in Uganda

This study attempts to evaluate if the provider-client experiences, perceptions and client satisfaction with the information provided differs between provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling, which is based on information-giving - and voluntary counselling and testing, which includes individualized client-centered counseling. [adapted from abstract]

Community Caregivers: The Backbone for Accessible Care and Support

This report is the result of research undertaken in South Africa to review community and home-based care, especially in regards to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support. The research highlights the important roles played by caregivers in health promotion programs, counselling and testing, client advocacy, stigma mitigation and community mobilization. [adapted from author]

Task-Sharing of HIV Care and ART Initiation: Evaluation of a Mixed-Care Non-Physician Provider Model for ART Delivery in Rural Malawi

This article argues that expanding access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa requires implementation of alternative care delivery models to traditional physician-centered approaches. This longitudinal analysis compares outcomes of patients initiated on ART by non-physician and physician providers. [adapted from author]

Estimated Risk of HIV Acquisition and Practice for Preventing Occupational Exposure: A Study of Healthcare Workers at Tumbi and Dodoma Hospitals, Tanzania

The main objective of this study was to estimate the risk of HIV transmission and examine the practices for preventing occupational exposures among health care workers at Tumbi and Dodoma Hospitals in Tanzania. [from abstract]

Strong Effects of Home-Based Voluntary HIV Counseling and Testing on Acceptance and Equity: A Cluster Randomized Trial in Zambia

This study investigated the acceptance of home-based counselling and testing by lay counselors, its equity in uptake and the effect of negative life events with a cluster-randomized trial. [adapted from abstract]

Evaluation of a Quality Improvement Intervention to Prevent Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV (PMTCT) at Zambia Defence Force Facilities

This study evaluates the impact of an intervention that improve the quality of services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV at its health facilities, which included provider training, supportive supervision, detailed performance standards, repeated assessments of service quality, and task shifting of group education to lay workers. [adapted from abstract]

HIV and Maternal Health: Faith Groups' Activities, Contributions and Impact

This report documents the contributions to and impact of faith groups in relation to providing HIV/AIDS and maternal health services, and identifies the challenges to faith groups, at local, national and international levels, in delivering these health services. [adapted from author]

Feasibility and Acceptability of HIV Screening through the Use of Rapid Tests by General Practitioners in a Brussels Area with a Substantial African Community

The aim of the study was to assess whether HIV screening with rapid testing in Belgium neighborhoods with a significant African community was feasible and acceptable to both general practitioners and patients, and to determine the number of new HIV infections diagnosed among tested patients. [from introduction]

Implementing a Provider-Initiated Testing and Counseling (PITC) Intervention in Cape Town, South Africa: A Process Evaluation Using the Normalisation Process Model

This paper reports the findings of a process evaluation of a controlled trial of PITC for people with sexually transmitted infections attending publicly funded clinics in a low-resource setting in South Africa, where the trial results were lower than anticipated compared to the standard voluntary counselling and testing approach. [from abstract]

High HIV Testing Uptake and Linkage to Care in a Novel Program of Home-Based HIV Counseling and Testing with Facilitated Referral in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

This study piloted home-based counseling and testing with point-of-care CD4 count testing and follow-up visits from lay counselors to facilitate linkage of HIV-infected persons to local HIV clinics and uptake of antiretroviral treatment in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. [adapted from abstract]

Self-Reported Occupational Exposure to HIV Factors Influencing Its Management Practice: A Study of Healthcare Workers in Tumbi and Dodoma Hospitals, Tanzania

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of self-reported occupational exposure to HIV among health care workers and explore factors that influence the practice of managing occupational exposure to HIV by health care workers in Tanzania. [from abstract]

Cost-Effectiveness of a Nurse-Based Intervention (AIMS) to Improve Adherence among HIV-Infected Patients: Design of a Multi-Centre Randomised Controlled Trial

Following a recent review suggesting that cost-effectiveness evaluations of adherence interventions for chronic diseases are rare, and that the methodology of such evaluations is poorly described in the literature, this manuscript presents the study protocol for a multi-centre trial evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of AIMS among a heterogeneous sample of patients. [from abstract]

Noninferiority of a Task-Shifting HIV Care and Treatment Model Using Peer Counselors and Nurses Among Ugandan Women Initiated on ART: Evidence From a Randomized Trial

The objective of this study was to assess the non-inferiority of a task-shifting HIV treatment model relying on peer counselors and nurses compared with a physician-centered model among HIV-1-positive women initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at a prevention of mother-to-child transmission clinic in Mulago Hospital, Uganda. [from abstract]

Using a Campaign Approach Among Health Workers to Increase Access to Antiretroviral Therapy for Pregnant HIV-Infected Women in South Africa

This study evaluated a targeted brief antiretroviral (ART) campaign among health workers that used quality improvement health systems approaches to significantly improve access to ART for HIV-infected pregnant women across a large health district in South Africa. [adapted from author]