Clinical Outcomes Among HIV-Positive Adolescents Attending an Integrated and Comprehensive Adolescent-Focused HIV Care Program in Rural Rwanda

Type Journal Article - Journal of HIV/AIDS & Social Services
Title Clinical Outcomes Among HIV-Positive Adolescents Attending an Integrated and Comprehensive Adolescent-Focused HIV Care Program in Rural Rwanda
Author(s)
Volume 12
Issue 3-4
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2013
Page numbers 437-450
URL http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/15381501.2013.775684#.VDuUlfl_v84
Abstract
To serve the unique needs of HIV-positive adolescents, an adolescent-focused HIV program, which included clinical, psychosocial, and community-based services, was established in rural Rwanda. From October 1, 2009, to February 1, 2011, 206 HIV-positive adolescents aged 11 to 19 years were enrolled, of whom 10 transferred care out of the program. Overall, 191 (97.5%) of 196 adolescents were retained, 4 (2%) were lost to follow-up, and 1 (0.5%) died. Median follow-up time was 4.6 (interquartile range 3.2 to 5.7) years. Among 124 patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least 1 year, median CD4 increase was 347 cells/mm3(36 to 553), and 87% achieved virologic suppression (<500 copies/mL). Clinic attendance was high, with 90.8% and 88.5% of ART-initiated and pre-ART patients, respectively, attending the clinic within 90 days of the end of the follow-up period. Our findings suggest that integrated, comprehensive, and youth-friendly clinics for HIV-positive adolescents can be successful in rural, resource-poor settings.

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