Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39994735›Full record

ArticleAIDS research and therapy2025

Hospitalized with HIV in Zambia: individual and system factors driving the high burden of admissions and post-discharge mortality in the era of HIV epidemic control.

Chiti Bwalya, Kirsten Stoebenau, Godfrey Muchanga, Mwangala Mwale, Choolwe Maambo, Swamie Banda, Palicha Halwiindi, Linah K Mwango, Caitlin Baumhart, Nyuma Mbewe and 6 more

Registry-linked trialAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in AIDS research and therapy, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT07720128 (Advanced HIV Re-engagement in Care), which is not on this map. Cited by 4 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing 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.

NCT07720128 nanot yet recruitingnot on this mapstarted 2027, after this paper: background citation

Advanced HIV Re-engagement in Care

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversity of Alabama at BirminghamRan2027 to 2031Enrolled724ConditionsAdvanced HIV DiseaseArmsARC
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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

  1. Pooled it
  2. Article
  3. Review
  4. Article
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

16 authors.

Chiti BwalyaMaryland Global Initiatives Corporation Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia. Cbwalya@mgic.umaryland.edu.
Kirsten StoebenauSchool of Public Health, Department of Behavioral and Community Health, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA.
Godfrey MuchangaMaryland Global Initiatives Corporation Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Mwangala MwaleMaryland Global Initiatives Corporation Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Choolwe MaamboMaryland Global Initiatives Corporation Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Swamie BandaMaryland Global Initiatives Corporation Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Palicha HalwiindiMaryland Global Initiatives Corporation Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Linah K MwangoCiheb Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Caitlin BaumhartCentre for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Nyuma MbeweSchool of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Mundia MwitumwaSchool of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Priscilla MulengaMinistry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia.
Manhattan CharuratCentre for International Health, Education, and Biosecurity, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Wilbroad MutaleUniversity of Zambia School of Public Health, Lusaka, Zambia.
Michael J Vinikoor *School of Medicine, University of Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.
Cassidy W Claassen *Maryland Global Initiatives Corporation Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia.

Funding

ZENITH D43 HIV & Aging Supplement - Prevalence of aging related conditions, stigma, and quality of life among older adults with and without HIV infection in ZambiaD43TW012493 · FIC · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · PI Cassidy W. Claassen, Lloyd Berdard Mulenga · 2023 to 2026
$1.3M
Re-engagement at Discharge (Re-Charge): Improving post-hospital outcomes for HIV-infected adults in ZambiaR34MH122265 · NIMH · UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND BALTIMORE · PI CLAASSEN, CASSIDY W., VINIKOOR, MICHAEL JEFFREY · 2021 to 2023
$594k
FIC NIH HHS D43 TW012493NIH HHS R34MH122265-01NIMH NIH HHS R34 MH122265
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite progress towards HIV epidemic control, people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Zambia continue to face high mortality during and especially after hospitalization, with suboptimal post-discharge care leading to poor outcomes. We conducted a qualitative study to better understand factors influencing post-discharge engagement in care for HIV and associated comorbidities.

methodsWe conducted in-depth interviews with 16 recently discharged PLHIV, seven caregivers, and two doctors; and three focus group discussions with inpatient doctors (n = 8) and lay counsellors (n = 16) at two tertiary hospitals in Lusaka, guided by the social-ecological model. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, managed with Atlas.ti 9, and thematically analyzed.

resultsIndividual and household-level barriers to post-discharge care for PLHIV included HIV status denial and stigma, limited disclosure, and limited social and emotional support. Health-related barriers included concomitant treatments for TB, HIV comorbidities, and behavioral health issues like depression and alcohol abuse. Health system barriers included limited confidentiality during admission and poor communication between healthcare providers and between facilities aftercare transitions following discharge. Social-economic factors included economic shocks of hospitalization and post-discharge recovery, which compounded pre-existing poverty and high transportation and food costs. Conversely, disclosure of HIV status, better social support, a financially stable household, and hospital follow-up appointment reminders facilitated better post-discharge care.

conclusionAfter hospital discharge with HIV, system and individual challenges exacerbate pre-existing interpersonal, health, environmental, and system-related factors to cause poor outcomes. Holistic community-based interventions to facilitate these patients' re-engagement in care after discharge could help HIV programs reach the last mile in epidemic control.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsHospitalizationAdultCost of IllnessEpidemicsFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMaleMiddle AgedPatient DischargeQualitative ResearchSocial StigmaSocial SupportZambiaARTHIVHospitalizationPost-discharge engagementQualitative research and mortality

Identifiers

PMID39994735
PMCPMC11849148

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Registered trials

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.