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Abstract Background Nigeria adapted the WHO package of care for Advanced HIV Disease (AHD) in 2020. The package includes CD4 + cell count testing to identify People Living with HIV (PLHIV) with AHD, screening and treatment of opportunistic infections, rapid antiretrovirals (ART) initiation, and intensive adherence follow-up. The national program adopted a phased approach in the rollout of the AHD package of care to learn lessons from a few representative health facilities before scaling up across the country. This study describes the process and lessons learned from the first phase of implementation. Methods This was a prospective observational study, and participants were enrolled between February and September 2021. Healthcare-worker (HCW) capacity was built to implement the AHD package of care. The study population included newly diagnosed PLHIV ≥ 10 years presenting to care in 28 selected facilities across 4 states in Nigeria. Eligible participants received CD4 + cell testing at baseline. Those with CD4 + cell count

Abstract Background Malawi continues to register HIV/AIDS mortality despite increased expansion of ART services and as well as advanced HIV screening as outlined in the 2020 -2025 Malawi National HIV Strategic Plan (NSP). This study aimed to explore factors influencing the implementation of the advanced HIV disease (AHD) screening package at Rumphi District Hospital, Malawi. Methods We conducted a mixed method, convergent study at a secondary referral hospital with 8 659 clients on ART. Guided by a consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR) we conducted semi-structured Interviews with healthcare professionals, purposively selected from various key departments that were actively involved in AHD screening. Transcripts were organized and coded using NVivo 12 software with thematically predefined CFIR constructs. Newly HIV-positive client records extracted from ART cards (July –Dec, 2021) were analyzed using STATA 14 software. Results One hundred one ART records met inclusion criteria for review and analysis of which 60% (n = 61) of the newly diagnosed HIV clients had no documented results for CD4 Cell count. Barriers to AHD screening emerged from four major CFIR constructs: intervention complexity, communication, availability of resources and access to knowledge and information. The specific barriers included poor work coordination among implementers, limited resources to support the expansion of AHD screening, and knowledge gap among providers. External support from Ministry of Health implementing partners and the availability of committed focal leaders coordinating HIV programs emerged as major enablers of AHD screening package. Conclusion The study has identified major contextual barriers to AHD screening including knowledge gap, poor communication systems and inadequate supporting resources. Improving uptake of AHD screening services would therefore require overcoming the existing barriers by adopting a comprehensive approach in developing barrier-tailored strategies.

Background: Malawi continues to register HIV/AIDS mortality despite increased expansion of ART services and as well as advanced HIV screening as outlined in the 2020 -2025 Malawi National HIV Strategic Plan (NSP). This study aimed to explore factors influencing the implementation of the advanced HIV disease (AHD) screening package at Rumphi District Hospital, Malawi. Methods: We conducted a mixed method, convergent study at a secondary referral hospital with 8 659 clients on ART. Guided by a consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR) we conducted semi-structured Interviews with healthcare professionals, purposively selected from various key departments that were actively involved in AHD screening. Transcripts were organized and coded using NVivo 12 software with thematically predefined CFIR constructs. Newly HIV-positive client records extracted from ART cards (July –Dec, 2021) were analyzed using STATA 14 software. Results: One hundred one ART records met inclusion criteria for review and analysis of which 60% (n = 61) of the newly diagnosed HIV clients had no documented results for CD4 Cell count. Barriers to AHD screening emerged from four major CFIR constructs: intervention complexity, communication, availability of resources and access to knowledge and information. The specific barriers included poor work coordination among implementers, limited resources to support the expansion of AHD screening, and knowledge gap among providers. External support from Ministry of Health implementing partners and the availability of committed focal leaders coordinating HIV programs emerged as major enablers of AHD screening package. Conclusion: The study has identified major contextual barriers to AHD screening including knowledge gap, poor communication systems and inadequate supporting resources. Improving uptake of AHD screening services would therefore require overcoming the existing barriers by adopting a comprehensive approach in developing barrier-tailored strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe immunosuppression has been reported as one of the causes of a false-negative HIV rapid test result. Guidelines on what tests should be performed in adult patients presenting with severe immunosuppression despite a negative HIV rapid test result are lacking. This is the second case report of a false-negative HIV rapid test results in a patient presenting with advanced HIV disease in Tanzania.