Test and Start for People Living With HIV and Who Use Drugs in Low and Middle Income Countries
Journal Title: HIV/AIDS Research and Treatment – Open Journal - Year 2016, Vol 3, Issue 1
Abstract
“Test and Start” implements the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of “treat all” by providing anti-retroviral treatment to persons newly diagnosed with HIV infection, at the time of their diagnosis. This HIV treatment algorithm is derived from recent international clinical trials and the recent international HIV treatment guidelines by WHO, recommending all people living with HIV be provided anti-retroviral treatment. This “treat all” recommendation removes any and all limitations for receiving anti-retroviral treatment for all people living with HIV, including people who use drugs. However, there are a limited number of “Test and Start” programs that have focused on the barriers to anti-retroviral treatment for people who use drugs. With an increasing number of low and middle income countries developing guidance for “Test and Start” programs, this articles identified four elements that support access to and successful initiation of the early initiation of anti-retroviral treatment for people living with HIV, who use drugs. The elemental services are: outreach with social services, screening for and management of substance use disorders, comprehensive primary care and differentiated care in anti-retroviral treatment. Together these services can provide a supportive foundation for “Test and Start” programs for people living with HIV, who use drugs.
Authors and Affiliations
Thomas F. Kresina
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP555347
- DOI 10.17140/HARTOJ-3-121
- Views 131
- Downloads 0
HIV/AIDS Epidemic and Global Health
AIDS has emerged as a global epidemic in an unprecedented universal involvement compelling the transformation of the general outlook towards disease and the emergence of the concept of global health. First cases of AIDS...
Cardiac Manifestations in HIV Infected Children. Are they under Diagnosed?
Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate cardiac manifestations in HIV-infected children in India. Methods & Results: This was a cross sectional study in HIV positive children up to 18 years of age, at a pediatr...
Understanding Barriers to Linking High Risk Heterosexual African American Women to Care in the Upper South
As part of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC’s) HIV prevention strategic plan through 2010,1 4 national goals were identified to reduce by half the new HIV infections in the United States. One of the 4 go...
It is Time to Explore the Potential Benefit of Routine Micronutrient Supplementation in Optimizing Bone Health and Growth in HIV Exposed Uninfected Children in theContext of Early Antiretroviral exposure in Resource Limited Settings
There is evidence that human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected children have decreased bone mineral density (BMD) compared to population norms.1-4 Similarly, several studies have shown impaired growth among HIV infec...
HIV/AIDS and Contraceptive Method Choice: Demographic and Socio-Economic Correlates of Contraceptive Method Choice Among HIV-Positive Women Practising Family Planning in Kenya
Introduction: As the generalized HIV epidemic in specific settings of sub-Saharan Africa continues to evolve, there is need for evidence-based response to address emerging challenges, which include enabling the large num...