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Decentralised paediatric HIV care in Ethiopia: a comparison between outcomes of patients managed in health centres and in a hospital clinic.

Hagströmer, Oskar ; Lundstedt, Lars ; Balcha, Taye LU and Björkman, Per LU orcid (2013) In Global Health Action 6(22274). p.1-12
Abstract
Background : In order to increase access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected children, paediatric HIV care has been introduced in health centres in Ethiopia, where patients are managed by health professionals with limited training. Objective : To compare outcomes of paediatric HIV care in hospital and health centre clinics and to determine risk factors for death and loss to follow-up (LTFU). Design : Retrospective comparison of patient characteristics and outcomes among children managed in a public hospital and all five public health centres in the uptake area. Results : Among 1,960 patients (health centres 572, hospital clinic 1,388), 34% were lost to follow-up, 2% died, 14% were transferred out, and 46% remained in care.... (More)
Background : In order to increase access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected children, paediatric HIV care has been introduced in health centres in Ethiopia, where patients are managed by health professionals with limited training. Objective : To compare outcomes of paediatric HIV care in hospital and health centre clinics and to determine risk factors for death and loss to follow-up (LTFU). Design : Retrospective comparison of patient characteristics and outcomes among children managed in a public hospital and all five public health centres in the uptake area. Results : Among 1,960 patients (health centres 572, hospital clinic 1,388), 34% were lost to follow-up, 2% died, 14% were transferred out, and 46% remained in care. Children initiating ART in the hospital clinic had lower median CD4 cell counts (age <1 year: 575 vs. 1,183 cells/mm(3), p=0.024; age 1-5 years: 370 vs. 598 cells/mm(3), p<0.001; age >5 years: 186 vs. 259 cells/mm(3), p<0.001), and a higher proportion were <1 year of age (22% vs. 15%, p=0.025). ART initiation rates and retention in care were similar between children managed in health centres and in the hospital clinic (36% vs. 37% and 47% vs. 46%, respectively). Among patients starting ART, mortality was associated with age <1 year [hazard ratio (HR) 12.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.5, 41]. LTFU was associated with CD4 cell counts <350 cells/mm(3) (HR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.0), weight-for-age z-scores below -4 (HR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.4, 5.6), and age <5 years (1-5 years: HR 1.6; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.5; <1 year: HR 3.3; 95% CI: 1.6, 6.6). Conclusions : Outcomes of HIV care were similar for Ethiopian children managed in a hospital clinic or in health centres. However, patients treated at the hospital clinic had characteristics of more advanced disease. Rates of LTFU were high in both types of health facility. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Global Health Action
volume
6
issue
22274
pages
1 - 12
publisher
Co-Action Publishing
external identifiers
  • wos:000327011500001
  • pmid:24219898
  • scopus:84893188561
ISSN
1654-9880
DOI
10.3402/gha.v6i0.22274
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
9011ba5e-948d-4d20-8f11-985425187709 (old id 4179555)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24219898?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 14:07:06
date last changed
2022-03-21 22:16:49
@article{9011ba5e-948d-4d20-8f11-985425187709,
  abstract     = {{Background : In order to increase access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected children, paediatric HIV care has been introduced in health centres in Ethiopia, where patients are managed by health professionals with limited training. Objective : To compare outcomes of paediatric HIV care in hospital and health centre clinics and to determine risk factors for death and loss to follow-up (LTFU). Design : Retrospective comparison of patient characteristics and outcomes among children managed in a public hospital and all five public health centres in the uptake area. Results : Among 1,960 patients (health centres 572, hospital clinic 1,388), 34% were lost to follow-up, 2% died, 14% were transferred out, and 46% remained in care. Children initiating ART in the hospital clinic had lower median CD4 cell counts (age &lt;1 year: 575 vs. 1,183 cells/mm(3), p=0.024; age 1-5 years: 370 vs. 598 cells/mm(3), p&lt;0.001; age &gt;5 years: 186 vs. 259 cells/mm(3), p&lt;0.001), and a higher proportion were &lt;1 year of age (22% vs. 15%, p=0.025). ART initiation rates and retention in care were similar between children managed in health centres and in the hospital clinic (36% vs. 37% and 47% vs. 46%, respectively). Among patients starting ART, mortality was associated with age &lt;1 year [hazard ratio (HR) 12.0; 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.5, 41]. LTFU was associated with CD4 cell counts &lt;350 cells/mm(3) (HR 1.8; 95% CI: 1.2, 3.0), weight-for-age z-scores below -4 (HR 2.8; 95% CI: 1.4, 5.6), and age &lt;5 years (1-5 years: HR 1.6; 95% CI: 1.0, 2.5; &lt;1 year: HR 3.3; 95% CI: 1.6, 6.6). Conclusions : Outcomes of HIV care were similar for Ethiopian children managed in a hospital clinic or in health centres. However, patients treated at the hospital clinic had characteristics of more advanced disease. Rates of LTFU were high in both types of health facility.}},
  author       = {{Hagströmer, Oskar and Lundstedt, Lars and Balcha, Taye and Björkman, Per}},
  issn         = {{1654-9880}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{22274}},
  pages        = {{1--12}},
  publisher    = {{Co-Action Publishing}},
  series       = {{Global Health Action}},
  title        = {{Decentralised paediatric HIV care in Ethiopia: a comparison between outcomes of patients managed in health centres and in a hospital clinic.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/3797130/4610890.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.3402/gha.v6i0.22274}},
  volume       = {{6}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}