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Life-long ART for pregnant and breastfeeding women (Option B+) was rolled-out in Zimbabwe from 2014 with simultaneous raising of the CD4 treatment-threshold in non-pregnant/breastfeeding adults and children >5 years to 500 cells/mm. \ud \ud Lablite is an implementation project in Zimbabwe, Malawi and Uganda evaluating ART rollout. Routine patient-level data were collected for 6 months prior to and 12 months after Option B+ rollout at a district hospital and three primary care facilities in Zimbabwe (two with outreach ART; one with no ART provision prior to Option B+). \ud \ud Between September 2013-February 2015 there were 1,686 ART initiations in the four facilities; 91% adults and 9% children aged 350 after the CD4-threshold increase. Estimated 12-month retention on ART was 79% (69%-87%) in Option B+ women (significantly lower in younger women, p=0.01), versus 93% (91%-95%) in other adults (difference p

In a randomized comparison of nevirapine or abacavir with zidovudine plus lamivudine, routine viral load monitoring was not performed, yet 27% of individuals with viral failure at week 48 experienced resuppression by week 96 without switching. This supports World Health Organization recommendations that suspected viral failure should trigger adherence counseling and repeat measurement before a treatment switch is considered.

Objective To describe the prevalence, incidence and predictors of severe anaemia in previously untreated symptomatic HIV-infected adults with CD4+ T-cells 3 initiating zidovudine-containing regimens in Africa. Design DART is a randomized trial comparing two strategies for HIV/AIDS management in Uganda and Zimbabwe. Methods We analysed the occurrence of anaemia at weeks 4 and 12, and then every 12 weeks. We also evaluated sex, age, WHO stage, body mass index (BMI), baseline laboratory measurements and first regimen as predictors of developing grade 4 anaemia (Results To May 2005, 3,314 participants (65% women, 23% at WHO stage 4, median age=37 years, baseline CD4+ T-cell=86 cells/mm3 and median baseline haemo-globin=11.4 g/dl) had a median 72 weeks follow-up. Prevalence of grade 4 anaemia was 0.7%, 2.0%, 0.5% and + T-cell count and BMI at baseline were at significantly higher risk ( PConclusions We observed a higher incidence of grade 4 anaemia than in studies from industrialized countries, which is likely to be due in part to population characteristics and in part to a higher rate of concurrent HIV-related clinical events. Clinical vigilance and haemoglobin measurements 4, 8 and 12 weeks after starting zidovudine could help to manage serious anaemia.

OBJECTIVES: To describe associations between different summaries of adherence in the first year on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the subsequent risk of mortality, to identify patients at high risk because of early adherence behaviour. METHODS: We previously described an approach where adherence behaviour at successive clinic visits during the first year on ART was seen as a Markov chain (MC), and the individually estimated transition probabilities between 'good', 'poor' and 'non-response' adherence states were used to classify HIV-infected adults in the DART trial into subgroups with similar behaviour. The impact of this classification and classifications based on traditional 'averaged' measures [mean drug possession ratio (DPR) and self-reported adherence] were compared in terms of their impact on longer-term mortality over the 2-5 years on ART using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: Of 2960 participants in follow-up after 1 year on ART, 29% had never missed pills in the last month and 11% had 100% DPR throughout the first year. The poorest adherers by self-reported measures were more likely to have only none/primary education (P < 0.01). Being in the poorest adherence subgroup by MC and DPR was independently associated with increased mortality [HR = 1.57 (95% CI 1.02, 2.42); 1.82 (1.32, 2.51) respectively]. CONCLUSIONS: Classification based on dynamic adherence behaviour is associated with mortality independently of DPR. The classifications could be useful in understanding adherence, targeting focused interventions and improving longer-term adherence to therapy.

BACKGROUND: Decentralization of ART services scaled up significantly with the country wide roll out of option B plus in Uganda. Little work has been undertaken to examine population level access to HIV care particularly in hard to reach areas in rural Africa. Most work on ART scale up has been done at health facility level which omits people not accessing healthcare in the community. This study describes health service usage, particularly HIV testing and care in 2/6 parishes of Lapono sub-county of northern Uganda, prior to introduction of ART services in Lira Kato Health Centre (a local lower-level health centre III), as part of ART decentralization. METHODS: Household and individual questionnaires were administered to household members (aged 15-59 years). Logit random effects models were used to test for differences in proportions (allowing for clustering within villages). RESULTS: 2124 adults from 1351 households were interviewed (755 [36%] males, 1369 [64 %] females). 2051 (97%) participants reported seeking care locally for fever, most on foot and over half at Lira Kato Health Centre. 574 (76%) men and 1156 (84%) women reported ever-testing for HIV (P < 0.001 for difference); 34/574 (6%) men and 102/1156 (9%) women reported testing positive (P = 0.04). 818/850 (96%) women who had given birth in the last 5 years had attended antenatal care in their last pregnancy: 7 women were already diagnosed with HIV (3 on ART) and 790 (97%) reported being tested for HIV (34 tested newly positive). 124/136 (91%) HIV-positive adults were in HIV-care, 123/136 (90 %) were taking cotrimoxazole and 74/136 (54%) were on ART. Of adults in HIV-care, most were seen at Kalongo hospital (n = 87), Patongo Health Centre (n = 7) or Lira Kato Health Centre (n = 23; no ART services). 58/87, 5/7 and 20/23 individuals walked to Kalongo hospital (56 km round-trip, District Health Office information), Patongo Health Centre (76 km round-trip, District Health Office information) and Lira Kato Health Centre (local) respectively. 8 HIV-infected children were reported; only 2 were diagnosed aged

BackgroundAlthough stroke mortality in developing countries is more than 85%, the case fatality in Uganda is not known.ObjectiveWe determined 30 day case fatality, associated clinical and laboratory presentations among adult stroke patients admitted to Mulago Hospital.DesignProspective descriptive studySettingMulago national referral hospital, Kampala, UgandaParticipantsStroke patients presenting from July 2010 to January 2011.InterventionPatients presenting to the accident and emergency with stroke confirmed on brain computerised tomography (CT) scan were recruited consecutively and subsequently transferred to the neurology unit. Selected social demographics, clinical and laboratory presentations were obtained. Supportive care, specific treatment and rehabilitation services were offered to the participants.Main Outcome MeasuresCase fatality rate at 30 daysResultsOut of 150 eligible participants, 17 declined, 133 were enrolled into the study but 5 were lost to follow up. Data from 128 participants were analysed. The mean age was 62.3+15.7 years and 58.0% were females. Ischemic and haemorrhagic stroke contributed 79% and 21% respectively. Majority of participants 97 (76%) had only motor deficits and 78 (61%) had impaired consciousness. More than half of participants had high blood pressure at admission, with diastolic and systolic hypertension among 106 (83%) and 68 (53%) respectively. Forty eight (38%) participants had hyperglycemia, 42 (33%) leucocytosis, 13% elevated low density lipoprotein and 9% high triglycerides. No participant with ischemic stroke presented in time for thrombolysis. The 30 day case fatality was 43.8% and factors independently associated with it were Glasgow coma scale (GCS) < 9 p = 0.001and age 51-60 years P=0.044.Conclusion Thirty-day case fatality was high. Poor prognostic factors were GCS of

Background: Liver diseases are common in patients with HIV due to viral hepatitis B and C co-infections, opportunistic infections or malignancies, antiretroviral drugs and drugs for opportunistic infections. Objective: To describe the spectrum of liver diseases in HIV-infected patients attending an HIV clinic in Kampala, Uganda. Method: Consecutive patients presenting with jaundice, right upper quadrant pain with fever or malaise, ascites and/or tender hepatomegaly were recruited and underwent investigations to evaluate the cause of their liver disease. Results: Seventy-seven consecutive patients were recruited over an eleven month period. Of these, 23 (30%) had increased transaminases because of nevirapine (NVP) and/or isoniazid (INH) hepatotoxicity. Although 14 (61%) patients with drug-induced liver disease presented with jaundice, all recovered with drug discontinuation. Hepatitis B surface antigen was positive in 11 (15%) patients while anti-hepatitis C antibody was reactive in only 2 (3%). Probable granulomatous hepatitis due to tuberculosis was diagnosed in 7 (9%) patients and all responded to anti-TB therapy. Other diagnoses included alcoholic liver disease, AIDS cholangiopathy, hepatocellular carcinoma, schistosomiasis, haemangioma and hepatic adenoma. Twelve (16%) patients died during follow-up of which 7 (9%) died because of liver disease. Conclusion: Drug history, liver enzyme studies, ultrasound, and hepatitis B and C investigations identified the probable etiology in 60 (78%) of 77 patients with HIV infection presenting with symptoms and/or signs of liver disease. African Health Science Vol. 8 (1) 2008: pp. 8-12

Objectives To compare the occurrence of risk-inducing condom events (condom failures and incomplete use) and the frequency of their antecedents (condom errors fit/feel problems and erection problems) between black and white men who have sex with men (MSM) and determine the associations between risk-inducing condom events and their antecedents. Methods We studied cross-sectional data of 475 MSM who indicated using a condom as an insertive partner in the previous 6 months enrolled in a cohort study in Atlanta Georgia USA. Results Nearly 40% of black MSM reported breakage or incomplete use and they were more likely to report breakage early removal and delayed application of a condom than white MSM. Only 31% and 54% of MSM reported correct condom use and suboptimal fit/feel of a condom respectively. The use of oil-based lubricants and suboptimal fit/feel were associated with higher odds of reporting breakage (p=0.009). Suboptimal fit/feel was also associated with higher odds of incomplete use of condoms (p