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AbstractIntroductionIdentifying HIV‐positive individuals is increasingly recognized as one of the most important and most challenging of the UNAIDS 90‐90‐90 goals. Assisted partner notification services (aPNS) involves tracing and offering HIV testing to partners of HIV‐positive individuals, and is effective and safe when provided to newly diagnosed HIV‐positive patients. Voluntary aPNS is now part of the World Health Organization's guidelines for HIV prevention and care. However, uptake of aPNS is significantly lower among adults with established HIV infection already engaged in care compared to newly diagnosed individuals. We sought to describe barriers encountered and potential opportunities to providing aPNS to established patients living with HIV.MethodsWe conducted focus group discussions and in‐depth interviews at Nairobi's largest public HIV clinic in April to May 2016 to elucidate barriers to and opportunities for aPNS among established patients engaged in HIV care. Participants included HIV‐positive adults in care, their partners, and healthcare workers (HCWs). Qualitative data analysis took a grounded theory approach.ResultsBarriers to aPNS fell under three main categories. Fear of disclosure to partners included concerns over relationship repercussions, loss of trust, blame and violence. Stigma and discrimination were described in the healthcare setting, at church and in general society. Participants described difficulties approaching communication, including cultural barriers and differences in education. For almost every barrier a potential solution was also identified, and a barrier‐opportunity relationship emerged. Opportunities included using couples testing centres to aid in disclosure, focusing on the ambiguous introduction of the infection, and sensitization of HCWs and community leaders.ConclusionsaPNS among established HIV patients is associated with different barriers and opportunities than aPNS among newly diagnosed patients, and HCWs should build their capacity to support aPNS in this population. There is a strong need for increased training and sensitization on the use of aPNS in different circumstances and for different clients, taking into consideration factors such as timing of partner notification, characteristics of the relationship and duration of knowledge discordance. The overall success of this intervention among populations living with HIV may rely on customization of services and key messages to meet the patients' specific needs.

Healthcare-seeking behaviours of HIV-infected mothers in sub-Saharan Africa are poorly characterized and typically focus on individual health conditions rather than overall health. We conducted a qualitative study to understand how HIV-infected mothers, their male partners, and their HIV-exposed infants seek medical services. We performed 32 in-depth interviews (17 female, 15 male) and four focus group discussions (FGDs) among HIV-infected postpartum women and their male partners in Nairobi, Kenya. We used a grounded theory approach to explore the paths followed for health-related concerns. Female participants reported that willingness to be tested for HIV influences whether women sought antenatal care and the type of facility they preferred for childbirth. The need for medical care outside regular clinic hours and securing safe transportation at night were also significant barriers to seeking care. Most men sought services from traditional healers and chemists before HIV diagnosis, and at governmental facilities afterwards. Both men and women sent infants to traditional healers for non-medical conditions such as bewitching and massage, but rarely for medical conditions. Strategies to reduce HIV-related stigma and fears in antenatal and maternity settings, increase access to care after-hours, and improve linkage to HIV care for men early in their infection are needed.

BackgroundWe set out to determine the relative roles of stigma versus health systems in non‐uptake of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV‐1 interventions: we conducted cross‐sectional assessment of all consenting mothers accompanying infants for six‐week immunizations.MethodsBetween September 2008 and March 2009, mothers at six maternal and child health clinics in Kenya's Nairobi and Nyanza provinces were interviewed regarding PMTCT intervention uptake during recent pregnancy. Stigma was ascertained using a previously published standardized questionnaire and infant HIV‐1 status determined by HIV‐1 polymerase chain reaction.ResultsAmong 2663 mothers, 2453 (92.1%) reported antenatal HIV‐1 testing. Untested mothers were more likely to have less than secondary education (85.2% vs. 74.9%, p = 0.001), be from Nyanza (47.1% vs. 32.2%, p < 0.001) and have lower socio‐economic status. Among 318 HIV‐1‐infected mothers, 90% reported use of maternal or infant antiretrovirals. Facility delivery was less common among HIV‐1‐infected mothers (69% vs. 76%, p = 0.009) and was associated with antiretroviral use (p < 0.001). Although internal or external stigma indicators were reported by between 12% and 59% of women, stigma was not associated with lower HIV‐1 testing or infant HIV‐1 infection rates; internal stigma was associated with modestly decreased antiretroviral uptake. Health system factors contributed to about 60% of non‐testing among mothers who attended antenatal clinics and to missed opportunities in offering antiretrovirals and utilization of facility delivery. Eight percent of six‐week‐old HIV‐1‐exposed infants were HIV‐1 infected.ConclusionsAntenatal HIV‐1 testing and antiretroviral uptake was high (both more than 90%) and infant HIV‐1 infection risk was low, reflecting high PMTCT coverage. Investment in health systems to deliver HIV‐1 testing and antiretrovirals can effectively prevent infant HIV‐1 infection despite substantial HIV‐1 stigma.

AbstractIntroductionHIV‐associated cryptococcal, TB and pneumococcal meningitis are the leading causes of adult meningitis in sub‐Saharan Africa (SSA). We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis with the primary aim of estimating mortality from major causes of adult meningitis in routine care settings, and to contrast this with outcomes from clinical trial settings.MethodsWe searched PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Library for published clinical trials (defined as randomized‐controlled trials (RCTs) or investigator‐managed prospective cohorts) and observational studies that evaluated outcomes of adult meningitis in SSA from 1 January 1990 through 15 September 2019. We performed random effects modelling to estimate pooled mortality, both in clinical trial and routine care settings. Outcomes were stratified as short‐term (in‐hospital or two weeks), medium‐term (up to 10 weeks) and long‐term (up to six months).Results and discussionSeventy‐nine studies met inclusion criteria. In routine care settings, pooled short‐term mortality from cryptococcal meningitis was 44% (95% confidence interval (95% CI):39% to 49%, 40 studies), which did not differ between amphotericin (either alone or with fluconazole) and fluconazole‐based induction regimens, and was twofold higher than pooled mortality in clinical trials using amphotericin based treatment (21% (95% CI:17% to 25%), 17 studies). Pooled short‐term mortality of TB meningitis was 46% (95% CI: 33% to 59%, 11 studies, all routine care). For pneumococcal meningitis, pooled short‐term mortality was 54% in routine care settings (95% CI:44% to 64%, nine studies), with similar mortality reported in two included randomized‐controlled trials. Few studies evaluated long‐term outcomes.ConclusionsMortality rates from HIV‐associated meningitis in SSA are very high under routine care conditions. Better strategies are needed to reduce mortality from HIV‐associated meningitis in the region.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the availability of workplace breastfeeding (BF) supports, and the associations between these supports and BF practices among formally employed mothers in Kenya – where many women work in horticulture farms and legislation requiring workplace BF supports is being implemented. We hypothesized that the availability of supports would be associated with a higher prevalence and greater odds of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF). METHODS: We conducted repeated cross-sectional surveys among formally employed mothers at 1–4 days, 6 weeks, 14 weeks, and 36 weeks (to estimate 24 weeks) postpartum at 3 health facilities in Naivasha from Sept. 2018 to Oct. 2019, 13 months after the 2017 Kenyan Health Act, which requires workplace BF support, was passed. We evaluated the associations of workplace BF supports with EBF practices using tests of proportions and adjusted logistic regression. RESULTS: Among formally employed mothers (n = 564), reported workplace supports included on-site housing (16.8%), on-site daycare (9.4%), and private lactation spaces (2.8%). Mothers who used workplace on-site childcare were more likely to practice EBF than mothers who used community- or home-based childcare at both 6 weeks (95.7% versus 82.4%, p = 0.030) and 14 weeks (60.6% versus 22.2%, p < 0.001; [aOR (95% CI) = 5.11 (2.3, 11.7)]. Likewise, mothers who visited daycares at or near workplaces were more likely to practice EBF (70.0%) compared to those who did not visit a daycare (34.7%, p = 0.005) at 14-weeks. Among all mothers, 84.6% with access to workplace private lactation spaces practiced EBF, compared to 55.6% without such spaces, p = 0.037. Mothers who live in on-site housing were twice as likely [aOR (95% CI) = 2.06 (1.25, 3.41)] to practice EBF compared to those without access to on-site housing. CONCLUSIONS: Formally employed mothers in Kenya who used on-site childcare, lived in on-site housing, and had access to private workplace lactation rooms are more likely to practice EBF than mothers who lack these ...

BackgroundAs highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) becomes increasingly available to African children, it is important to evaluate simple and feasible methods of improving adherence in order to maximize benefits of therapy.MethodsHIV‐1‐infected children initiating World Health Organization non‐nucleoside reverse transcriptase‐inhibitor‐containing first‐line HAART regimens were randomized to use medication diaries plus counselling, or counselling only (the control arm of the study). The diaries were completed daily by caregivers of children randomized to the diary and counselling arm for nine months. HIV‐1 RNA, CD4+ T cell count, and z‐scores for weight‐for‐age, height‐for‐age and weight‐for‐height were measured at a baseline and every three to six months. Self‐reported adherence was assessed by questionnaires for nine months.ResultsNinety HIV‐1‐infected children initiated HAART, and were followed for a median of 15 months (interquartile range: 2–21). Mean CD4 percentage was 17.2% in the diary arm versus 16.3% in the control arm at six months (p = 0.92), and 17.6% versus 18.9% at 15 months (p = 0.36). Virologic response with HIV‐1 RNA of <100 copies/ml at nine months was similar between the two arms (50% for the diary arm and 36% for the control, p = 0.83). The weight‐for‐age, height‐for‐age and weight‐for‐height at three, nine and 15 months after HAART initiation were similar between arms. A trend towards lower self‐reported adherence was observed in the diary versus the control arm (85% versus 92%, p = 0.08).ConclusionMedication diaries did not improve clinical and virologic response to HAART over a 15‐month period. Children had good adherence and clinical response without additional interventions. This suggests that paediatric HAART with conventional counselling can be a successful approach. Further studies on targeted approaches for non‐adherent children will be important.

AbstractIntroductionWe have previously demonstrated that assisted partner services (aPS) increases HIV testing and case finding among partners of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) in a cluster randomized trial in Kenya. However, the efficacy of aPS may vary across populations. In this analysis, we explore differences in aPS efficacy by characteristics of index participants.MethodsEighteen HIV testing sites were randomized to immediate versus 6‐week delayed aPS. Participants were PLHIV (or index participants) and their sexual partners. Partners of index participants were contacted for HIV testing and linked to care if HIV positive. Primary outcomes were the number of partners per index participant who: 1) tested for HIV, 2) tested HIV positive and 3) enrolled in HIV care. We used generalized estimating equations to assess differences in aPS efficacy by region, testing location, gender, age and knowledge of HIV status.ResultsFrom 2013 to 2015, the study enrolled 1119 index participants, 625 of whom were in the immediate group. These index participants named 1286 sexual partners. Immediate aPS was more efficacious than delayed aPS in promoting HIV testing among partners in high compared to low HIV prevalence regions (Nyanza incidence rate ratio (IRR) 7.2; 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.4, 9.6 vs. Nairobi/Central IRR 3.4 95% CI 2.3, 4.8). Higher rates of partner HIV testing were also observed for index participants in rural/peri‐urban compared to urban sites (IRR 6.6; 95% CI 4.5, 9.6 vs. IRR 3.5 95% CI 2.5, 5.0 respectively), for female versus male index participants (IRR 5.8 95% CI 4.2, 7.9 vs. IRR 3.7; 95% CI 2.4, 5.8 respectively) and for newly diagnosed versus known HIV‐positive index participants (IRR 6.0 95% CI 4.2, 8.7 vs. IRR 3.3; 95% CI 2.0, 7.7 respectively). Providing aPS to female versus male index participants also had a significantly higher HIV case finding rate (IRR 9.1; 95% CI 4.0, 20.9 vs. IRR 3.2 95% CI 1.7, 6.0 respectively.)ConclusionsWhile it is known that aPS promotes increases in HIV testing and case finding, this is the first study to demonstrate significant differences in aPS efficacy across characteristics of the index participant. Understanding these differences and their drivers will be critical as aPS is brought to scale in order to ensure all PLHIV have access to these services.

AbstractIntroductionHealthcare worker training is essential to successful implementation of assisted partner services (aPS), which aims to improve HIV testing and linkage‐to‐care outcomes for previously unidentified HIV‐positive individuals. Cameroon, Kenya and Mozambique are three African countries that have implemented aPS programmes and are working to bring those programmes to scale. In this paper, we present and compare different aPS training strategies implemented by these three countries, and discuss facilitators and barriers associated with implementation of aPS training in sub‐Saharan Africa.DiscussionaPS training programmes in Cameroon, Kenya and Mozambique share the following components: the development of comprehensive and interactive training curricula, recruitment of qualified trainees and trainers with intimate knowledge of the community served, continuous training, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation activities. Cameroon and Kenya were able to engage various stakeholders early on, establishing multilateral coalitions that facilitated attainment of long‐term buy‐in from the local governments. Ministries of Health and various implementing partners are often included in strategic planning and delivery of training curricula to ensure sustainability of the training programmes. Kenya and Mozambique have integrated aPS training into the national HTS guidelines, which are being rolled out nationwide by the Ministries of Health and implementing partners. Continual revision of training curricula to reflect the country context, as well as ongoing monitoring and evaluation, have also been identified as key facilitators to sustain aPS training programmes. Some of the barriers to scale‐up and sustainability of aPS training include limited funding and resources for training and scale‐up and shortage of aPS providers to facilitate on‐the‐job mentorship.ConclusionsThese three programmes demonstrate that aPS training can be implemented and scaled up in sub‐Saharan Africa. As countries plan for initial implementation or national scale‐up of aPS services, they will need to establish government buy‐in, expand funding sources, address the shortage of staff and resources to provide aPS and on‐the‐job mentorship, and continuously collect data to evaluate and improve aPS training plans. Development of national standards for aPS training, empowered healthcare providers, increased government commitment, and sustained funding for aPS services and training will be crucial for successful aPS implementation.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare worker training is essential to successful implementation of assisted partner services (aPS), which aims to improve HIV testing and linkage‐to‐care outcomes for previously unidentified HIV‐positive individuals. Cameroon, Kenya and Mozambique are three African countries that have implemented aPS programmes and are working to bring those programmes to scale. In this paper, we present and compare different aPS training strategies implemented by these three countries, and discuss facilitators and barriers associated with implementation of aPS training in sub‐Saharan Africa. DISCUSSION: aPS training programmes in Cameroon, Kenya and Mozambique share the following components: the development of comprehensive and interactive training curricula, recruitment of qualified trainees and trainers with intimate knowledge of the community served, continuous training, and rigorous monitoring and evaluation activities. Cameroon and Kenya were able to engage various stakeholders early on, establishing multilateral coalitions that facilitated attainment of long‐term buy‐in from the local governments. Ministries of Health and various implementing partners are often included in strategic planning and delivery of training curricula to ensure sustainability of the training programmes. Kenya and Mozambique have integrated aPS training into the national HTS guidelines, which are being rolled out nationwide by the Ministries of Health and implementing partners. Continual revision of training curricula to reflect the country context, as well as ongoing monitoring and evaluation, have also been identified as key facilitators to sustain aPS training programmes. Some of the barriers to scale‐up and sustainability of aPS training include limited funding and resources for training and scale‐up and shortage of aPS providers to facilitate on‐the‐job mentorship. CONCLUSIONS: These three programmes demonstrate that aPS training can be implemented and scaled up in sub‐Saharan Africa. As countries plan for initial ...