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Patient Retention in Antiretroviral Therapy Programs in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review

PLoS Medicine · 2007 · Vol. 4(10) · pp. e298–e298

Sydney Rosen✉(Africa Health Research Institute)Matthew P. Fox(Boston University)Christopher Gill(Boston Medical Center)

Abstract

Since the inception of large-scale ART access early in this decade, ART programs in Africa have retained about 60% of their patients at the end of 2 y. Loss to follow-up is the major cause of attrition, followed by death. Better patient tracing procedures, better understanding of loss to follow-up, and earlier initiation of ART to reduce mortality are needed if retention is to be improved. Retention varies widely across programs, and programs that have achieved higher retention rates can serve as models for future improvements.

HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions Global Maternal and Child Health HIV, Drug Use, Sexual RiskAttritionAntiretroviral therapyMedicineSystematic reviewHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV)MEDLINEDemographyPediatricsFamily medicineViral load

MeSH terms

Acquired Immunodeficiency SyndromeDeveloping CountriesDose-Response Relationship, DrugDrug Administration ScheduleFemaleHumansMalePatient ComplianceSeverity of Illness IndexHIV InfectionsSurvival AnalysisTreatment RefusalAfrica South of the SaharaRisk AssessmentAntiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active