Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38561736›Full record

Observational studyBMC health services research2024

Linkage to HIV care and early retention in HIV care among men in the 'universal test-and-treat' era in a high HIV-burdened district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Mbuzeleni Hlongwa, Wisdom Basera, Khumbulani Hlongwana, Carl Lombard, Ria Laubscher, Sinegugu Duma, Mireille Cheyip, Debbie Bradshaw, Edward Nicol

Abstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in BMC health services research, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
9citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Mbuzeleni HlongwaBurden of Disease Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa. hlongwa.mbu@gmail.com.
Wisdom BaseraBurden of Disease Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
Khumbulani HlongwanaSchool of Nursing and Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Carl LombardSouth African Medical Research Council, Biostatistics, Cape Town, South Africa.
Ria LaubscherSouth African Medical Research Council, Biostatistics, Cape Town, South Africa.
Sinegugu DumaSchool of Nursing and Public Health Medicine, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa.
Mireille CheyipDivision of Global HIV&TB, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Pretoria, South Africa.
Debbie BradshawBurden of Disease Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.
Edward NicolBurden of Disease Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa.

Funding

CDC HHS 1U2GGH001150CGH CDC HHS U2G GH001150
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionDespite the numerous efforts and initiatives, males with HIV are still less likely than women to receive HIV treatment. Across Sub-Saharan Africa, men are tested, linked, and retained in HIV care at lower rates than women, and South Africa is no exception. This is despite the introduction of the universal test-and-treat (UTT) prevention strategy anticipated to improve the uptake of HIV services. The aim of this study was to investigate linkage to and retention in care rates of an HIV-positive cohort of men in a high HIV prevalence rural district in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa.

methodsFrom January 2018 to July 2019, we conducted an observational cohort study in 18 primary health care institutions in the uThukela district. Patient-level survey and clinical data were collected at baseline, 4-months and 12-months, using isiZulu and English REDCap-based questionnaires. We verified data through TIER.Net, Rapid mortality survey (RMS), and the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) databases. Data were analyzed using STATA version 15.1, with confidence intervals and p-value of ≤0.05 considered statistically significant.

resultsThe study sample consisted of 343 male participants diagnosed with HIV and who reside in uThukela District. The median age was 33 years (interquartile range (IQR): 29-40), and more than half (56%; n = 193) were aged 18-34 years. Almost all participants (99.7%; n = 342) were Black African, with 84.5% (n = 290) being in a romantic relationship. The majority of participants (85%; n = 292) were linked to care within three months of follow-up. Short-term retention in care (≤ 12 months) was 46% (n = 132) among men who were linked to care within three months.

conclusionWhile the implementation of the UTT strategy has had positive influence on improving linkage to care, men's access of HIV treatment remains inconsistent and may require additional innovative strategies.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsAdolescentAdultCohort StudiesHumansMaleMenSouth AfricaSurveys and QuestionnairesYoung AdultHIV treatmentLinkage to careMenRetention in careSouth Africa

Identifiers

PMID38561736
PMCPMC10985849

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.