The effect of antiretroviral therapy guideline change on health outcomes among youth living with HIV in Uganda.

ABSTRACTOpportunistic infections (OIs) are the primary cause of HIV-related morbidity and mortality. To reduce the risk, the ART eligibility criteria were revised to start treatment before advanced disease onset. We evaluated the effect of 2014 HIV clinical guideline changes in Uganda on opportunistic infections and survival among Youth Living with HIV (YLWH). This retrospective cohort analysis used administrative data from the District Health Information System (DHIS2) and the national referral hospital, to compare YLWH, 15-24 years old, who started ART pre-guideline (January 2012-June 2014) and post-guideline (July 2014-December 2016). We assessed the effect using multivariable logistic and Cox Proportional Hazards regression models, respectively. Post-guideline youth had 18% and 30% lower adjusted odds of having an OI at 6 (aOR: 0.82, 95%CI: 0.67, 0.99), and 12 months (aOR: 0.70, 95%CI: 0.58, 0.85) after ART initiation, compared to pre-guideline youth. No significant differences were observed in survival probabilities (Z = 2.56, P-value = 0.11) and adjusted hazard ratios (aHR: 1.55, 95%CI: 0.46, 5.28). Early ART initiation reduced the risk of OIs among YLWH. However, given the existence of geographical and clinical variations in the endemicity, morbidity and mortality associated with different OIs, additional research is still needed.

Lost to follow-up: failure to engage children in care in the first three months of diagnosis.

Loss to follow-up (LTFU) is a critical factor in determining clinical outcomes in HIV treatment programs. Identifying modifiable factors of LTFU is fundamental for designing effective patient-retention interventions. We analyzed factors contributing to children LTFU from a treatment program to identify those that can be modified. A case-control study involving 313 children was used to compare the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of children LTFU (cases) with those remaining in care (controls) at a large pediatric HIV care setting in Botswana. We traced children through caregiver contacts and those we found, we conducted structured interviews with patients' caregivers. Children <5 years were nearly twice as likely as older children to be LTFU (57·8% versus 30·9%, p <0 .01). Approximately half (47·6%, n = 51) of LTFU patients failed to further engage in care after just one clinic visit, as compared to less than 1% (n = 2) in the control group (p < 0.01). Children LTFU were more likely than controls to have advanced disease, greater immunosuppression, and not to be receiving antiretroviral therapy. Among interviewed patient caregivers, psychosocial factors (e.g., stigma, religious beliefs, child rebellion, disclosure of HIV status) were characteristics of patients LTFU, but not of controls. Socioeconomic factors (e.g., lack of transportation, school-related activities, forgetting appointments) were cited predominantly by the controls. Pediatric patients and their caregivers need to be targeted and engaged at their initial clinic visit, with special attention to children <5 years. Possible interventions include providing psychosocial support for issues that deter patients from engaging with The Clinic. Collaboration with community-based organizations focused on reducing stigma may be useful in addressing these complex issues.

A Case of in utero Transmission of Drug-resistant HIV in the United States.

Thanks to the development of antiretroviral drugs and the implementation of routine perinatal prophylaxis, primarily containing zidovudine, modern-day rates of perinatal transmission of HIV are very low in developed countries. We present a case of perinatal transmission of HIV with extensive nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor resistance as a reminder that perinatal transmission of resistance mutations can occur. This case calls for further investigation into the utility of using genotype to determine neonatal prophylaxis in the setting of maternal HIV drug resistance.

Reentry to Pediatric Residency After Global Health Experiences.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although nonphysician reentry transitions have been characterized in literature, little is known about the reentry physicians in general, or residents in particular. We conducted a qualitative study to explore pediatric residents' reentry, using reverse culture shock as a conceptual framework. METHODS: Eighteen pediatric residents who completed global health experiences in Africa (9 categorical residents with 1-month elective, 9 global child health residents with 12-month training) participated in interviews that included a card-sort to solicit emotional responses consistent with the conceptual framework. Data in the form of interview transcripts were coded and analyzed according to principles of grounded theory. RESULTS: All pediatric residents, despite variable time abroad, reported a range of emotional responses on reentry to residency. Global child health residents felt disconnection and frustration more intensely than categorical residents, whereas categorical residents felt invigoration more intensely than global child health residents. Although residents met with program leadership after their return, no resident described these meetings as a formal debriefing, and few described a deliberate strategy for processing emotions on reentry. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with reverse culture shock, pediatric residents felt a range of emotions as they move toward a steady state of acculturating back into their residency program. Residency programs might consider creating safety nets to help cultivate support for residents when they reenter training.