scholarly journals HIV Treatment in sub-Saharan Africa: Did bureaucratic headwinds delay access to dolutegravir?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reuben Granich ◽  
Somya Gupta

IntroductionThe World Health Organization now recommends dolutegravir (DTG) as part of the preferred first-line treatment for all adults living with HIV including women who may become pregnant. The new regimen with its high barrier to resistance, shortened time to suppression, superior side effects profile, and lower health sector and individual costs, represents a significant improvement. The recommendation removes an important obstacle to accessing dolutegravir as an essential element in controlling the epidemic. DiscussionTranslating science to policy to HIV service delivery is complex and vulnerable to significant delays. WHO, assuming a regulatory role, used preliminary Botswana Tsepamo study information regarding neural tube defects to issue a “safety signal” regarding DTG in May 2018. Regulatory evaluations of rare adverse reactions are complex, take time, and require considerable subject area specific expertise. After over a year, the WHO reversed its initial findings and issued revised treatment recommendations. However, the mixed messaging and confusion around dolutegravir’s safety profile has delayed national level adoption. The pace of national adoption of new WHO recommendations is measurable through published national guidelines and/or circulars available in the public domain. After 2015, published guidelines for 22 of 46 sub-Saharan countries (94% of 2018 regional HIV burden) showed that only three countries representing 4% of regional burden have adopted the new WHO preferred 1st line recommendations. ConclusionsMonitoring and evaluating the translation of science to service delivery is a critical element of successful disease control and elimination. The DTG false alarm and ongoing delayed access provides an opportunity to learn valuable lessons and implement corrective actions. However, lessons can only be learned by accurately describing and examining the timeline, processes, and impact of policy decisions that can adversely impact millions of people living with HIV. As with any successful global disease elimination effort or major project, it is important to establish a critical pathway for translation of science to service delivery and hold people and agencies accountable for their roles in accelerating and/or delaying progress.

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Reuben Granich ◽  
Somya Gupta

IntroductionThe World Health Organization now recommends dolutegravir (DTG) as part of the preferred first-line treatment for all adults living with HIV including women who may become pregnant. The new regimen with its high barrier to resistance, shortened time to suppression, superior side effects profile, and lower health sector and individual costs, represents a significant improvement. The recommendation removes an important obstacle to accessing dolutegravir as an essential element in controlling the epidemic. DiscussionTranslating science to policy to HIV service delivery is complex and vulnerable to significant delays. WHO, assuming a regulatory role, used preliminary Botswana Tsepamo study information regarding neural tube defects to issue a “safety signal” regarding DTG in May 2018. Regulatory evaluations of rare adverse reactions are complex, take time, and require considerable subject area specific expertise. After over a year, the WHO reversed its initial findings and issued revised treatment recommendations. However, the mixed messaging and confusion around dolutegravir’s safety profile has delayed national level adoption. The pace of national adoption of new WHO recommendations is measurable through published national guidelines and/or circulars available in the public domain. After 2015, published guidelines for 22 of 46 sub-Saharan countries (94% of 2018 regional HIV burden) showed that only three countries representing 4% of regional burden have adopted the new WHO preferred 1st line recommendations. ConclusionsMonitoring and evaluating the translation of science to service delivery is a critical element of successful disease control and elimination. The DTG false alarm and ongoing delayed access provides an opportunity to learn valuable lessons and implement corrective actions. However, lessons can only be learned by accurately describing and examining the timeline, processes, and impact of policy decisions that can adversely impact millions of people living with HIV. As with any successful global disease elimination effort or major project, it is important to establish a critical pathway for translation of science to service delivery and hold people and agencies accountable for their roles in accelerating and/or delaying progress.


2020 ◽  
Vol 54 (3) ◽  
pp. 186-196
Author(s):  
Kwasi Torpey ◽  
Adwoa Agyei-Nkansah ◽  
Lily Ogyiri ◽  
Audrey Forson ◽  
Margaret Lartey ◽  
...  

Tuberculosis (TB) and HIV are strongly linked. There is a 19 times increased risk of developing active TB in people living with HIV than in HIV-negative people with Sub-Saharan Africa being the hardest hit region. According to the WHO, 1.3 million people died from TB, and an additional 300,000 TB-related deaths among people living with HIV. Although some progress has been made in reducing TB-related deaths among people living with HIV due to the evolution of diagnostics, treatment and antiretroviral HIV treatment, multi drug resistant TB is becoming a source of worry. Though significant progress has been made at the national level, understanding the state of the evidence and the challenges will better inform the national response of the opportunities for improved patient outcomes.Keywords: Tuberculosis, management, HIV, MDR TB, GhanaFunding: None


2021 ◽  
pp. 095646242110422
Author(s):  
Reuben Granich ◽  
Somya Gupta ◽  
Brian Williams

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment prevents illness, death, and transmission. The 90-90-90 disease control target is only 73% of people living with HIV virally suppressed. For 2010 to 2019, we abstracted HIV funding data for 40 countries in sub-Saharan Africa (70% of global HIV burden and >99% of HIV burden in the region in 2018). During 2010–2019, there was ∼$52 billion funding for 40 countries (99% Africa HIV burden). Domestic funding ranged from $0 to $3.2 billion. PEPFAR funding was $32 billion (average $1.4 billion; range $0.089–4.3 billion) among 22 countries. Global Fund averaged $306 million ($1.9 million to $1.1 billion) for 40 countries. Among PLHIV, known HIV status averaged 80% (11% to 94%). ART coverage averaged 64% (9% to 90%). Viral suppression among PLHIV ranged from 8% to 87%. Of the 40 countries, 21 reported under 60% of PLHIV to be on treatment and 13 did not report viral suppression for 2018. Achieving 90-90-90 is feasible in challenging settings if resources are used efficiently. Despite the significant investment in the HIV response, many countries have not reached the 90-90-90 target. Greater attention to efficiency and prioritizing important targets will be required to end AIDS in Africa.


2017 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-138 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark J. Siedner

Objective: The number of people living with HIV (PLWH) over 50 years old in sub-Saharan Africa is predicted to triple in the coming decades, to 6-10 million. Yet, there is a paucity of data on the determinants of health and quality of life for older PLWH in the region. Methods: A review was undertaken to describe the impact of HIV infection on aging for PLWH in sub-Saharan Africa. Results: We (a) summarize the pathophysiology and epidemiology of aging with HIV in resource-rich settings, and (b) describe how these relationships might differ in sub-Saharan Africa, (c) propose a conceptual framework to describe determinants of quality of life for older PLWH, and (d) suggest priority research areas needed to ensure long-term gains in quality of life for PLWH in the region. Conclusions: Differences in traditional, lifestyle, and envirnomental risk factors, as well as unique features of HIV epidemiology and care delivery appear to substantially alter the contribution of HIV to aging in sub-Saharan Africa. Meanwhile, unique preferences and conceptualizations of quality of life will require novel measurement and intervention tools. An expanded research and public health infrastructure is needed to ensure that gains made in HIV prevention and treamtent are translated into long-term benefits in this region.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 67-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Idongesit Godwin Utuk ◽  
Kayode Omoniyi Osungbade ◽  
Taiwo Akinyode Obembe ◽  
David Ayobami Adewole ◽  
Victoria Oluwabunmi Oladoyin

Background:Despite demonstrating global concerns about infection in the workplace, very little research has explored how co-workers react to those living with HIV in the workplace in sub-Saharan Africa. This study aimed to assess the level of stigmatising attitude towards co-workers living with HIV in the workplace.Methods:The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey involving 403 respondents. They were recruited from selected companies through a multistage sampling technique. Survey was carried out using pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences to generate frequencies, cross tabulations of variables at 5% level of significance. Logistic regression model was used to determine the predictors at 95% confidence intervals.Results:Mean age of respondents was 32.9 ± 9.4 years with 86.1% being females. Overall, slightly below two-third (63.0%) had good knowledge on transmission of HIV/AIDS while 218 (54.1%) respondents had a high stigmatising attitude towards co-workers with HIV in the workplace. More female respondents (69.6%) demonstrated high stigmatising attitudes towards co-workers with HIV in the workplace (p = 0.012). Female workers were twice more likely to have high stigmatising attitudes towards co-worker with HIV [OR 2.1 (95% CI: 1.13 – 3.83)].Conclusion:Stigma towards people living with HIV/AIDs is still very persistent in different settings. Good knowledge amongst our participants about HIV/AIDs did not translate to low stigmatising attitudes among workers. Concerted efforts and trainings on the transmission of HIV/AIDs are essential to reduce stigma that is still very prevalent in workplace settings.


Author(s):  
Tafadzwa Dzinamarira ◽  
Moreblessing Chipo Mashora

Background: Good nutritional status is highly significant for individuals who are infected with HIV. However, they still face a number of nutritional challenges. The proposed scoping review will map literature on the nutritional challenges facing people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and guide future research in nutritional management to improve health outcomes for PLWH. Here we outline a scoping review protocol designed according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis Protocols (PRISMA-P 2015 Guidelines).Methods: The Arksey and O’Malley’s 2005 scoping methodological framework further improved by Levac et al. 2010 will guide the search and reporting. Searches will be conducted for eligible articles from MEDLINE (PubMed), MEDLINE, CINAHL, Academic Search Complete and ISI Web of Science (Science Citation Index) electronic databases. Two independent reviewers will conduct the search guided by an inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality appraisal of the included articles will be conducted guided by the mixed methods appraisal tool 2018 version. We will employ NVivo version 12 for thematic content analysis.Conclusions: The findings of this review will guide future research in nutritional management to improve health outcomes for PLWH in sub-Saharan African. This review will be disseminated electronically in a published peer reviewed article and in print.


Author(s):  
Rosyadi Aziz Rahmat ◽  
Devy Lestari Nurul Aulia

Background : According to the World Health Organization (WHO) HIV continues to be a global public health problem, claiming more than 70 million people are infected with the HIV virus and around 35 million people have died. In 2015, approximately 1.1 (940 000-1300000) million people have died due to being infected with the HIV virus. There were an estimated 36.7 (34.0-39.8) million people living with HIV at the end of 2016. Globally, Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region, with nearly 1 in 25 adults living with HIV. (WHO 2016). The purpose of this study was to determine the compliance of commercial sex workers on using condoms in the localization of Teluk Bakau, Batam City. Method : This study used a descriptive research design. The location of this research was carried out in the localization of Teluk Bakau, Batam City. The population in this study were all commercial sex workers (CSWs) in the Teluk Bakau brothels with a total of 95 people. The sample is an object under study and is considered to represent the entire population, here the writer uses a purposive technique, namely by means of sampling based on criteria. The measuring instrument in this study using a questionnaire. This analysis was carried out on each variable. These results are in the form of distribution and percentage of each variable. Data analysis was carried out in a univariate manner by looking at the results of the frequency calculation and the presentation of the results which could later be used as benchmarks for discussion and conclusions. Results and conclusions : It can be seen that the compliance of CSWs using condoms in the Bakau Bay brothel, Batam City is the majority of the majority behave obediently as many as 46 respondents (93.9%)


2020 ◽  
pp. 901-933
Author(s):  
Sarah Fidler ◽  
Timothy E.A. Peto ◽  
Philip Goulder ◽  
Christopher P. Conlon

Since its discovery in 1983, the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) has been associated with a global pandemic that has affected more than 78 million people and caused more than 39 million deaths. Globally, 36.9 million (34.3–41.4 million) people were living with HIV at the end of 2013. An estimated 0.8% of adults aged 15–49 years worldwide are living with HIV, although the burden of the epidemic continues to vary considerably between countries and regions. Sub-Saharan Africa remains most severely affected, with nearly 1 in every 20 adults living with HIV and accounting for nearly 71% of the people living with HIV worldwide. The impact of HIV in some African countries has been sufficient to reverse population growth and reduce life expectancy into the mid-30s, although HIV incidence has declined in some of these high-prevalence countries. However, there are large-scale HIV epidemics elsewhere (e.g. India, the Russian Federation, and Eastern Europe).


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