Data Resource Profile: Network for Analysing Longitudinal Population-based HIV/AIDS data on Africa (ALPHA Network)

Abstract

Summary The Network for Analysing Longitudinal Population-based HIV/AIDS data on Africa (ALPHA Network, http://alpha.lshtm.ac.uk/) brings together ten population-based HIV surveillance sites in eastern and southern Africa, and is coordinated by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM). It was established in 2005 and aims to (i) broaden the evidence base on HIV epidemiology for informing policy, (ii) strengthen the analytical capacity for HIV research, and (iii) foster collaboration between network members. All study sites, some starting in the late 1980s and early 1990s, conduct demographic surveillance in populations that range from approximately 20 to 220 thousand individuals. In addition, they conduct population-based surveys with HIV testing, and verbal autopsy interviews with relatives of deceased residents. ALPHA Network datasets have been used for studying HIV incidence, sexual behaviour and the effects of HIV on mortality, fertility, and household composition. One of the network's substantive focus areas is the monitoring of AIDS mortality and HIV services coverage in the era of antiretroviral therapy. Service use data are retrospectively recorded in interviews and supplemented by information from record linkage with medical facilities in the surveillance areas. Data access is at the discretion of each of the participating sites, but can be coordinated by the network.

Accounting for and responding to HIV-associated mortality

“…Reported factors for adult mortality in the Botswana national programme [2] are consistent with other reports, and include severe immune deficiency at start of ART [4], male sex [5,6], older age [7], and receipt of suboptimal (i.e. less potent/tolerable) ART regimens [8,9].…”

The History of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic in Africa

“…The nevirapine results (HIVNET 012) set the stage for more innovative and more efficacious preventive strategies which extended the use of nevirapine during lactation for up to 14 weeks [45][46][47] as well as trials to reduce emergency of resistance to nevirapine through addition of such drugs as zidovudine and lamivudine to nevirapine [48]. [50][51][52][53][54][55] with reductions in deaths due to AIDS-defining comorbidities [53]. ART did not only serve a treatment role but also provide additional tools for HIV prevention.…”

Cytopenias among ART-naive patients with advanced HIV disease on enrolment to care and treatment services at a tertiary hospital in Tanzania: A crosssectional study

“…1 The evidence accumulating on the effectiveness of ART suggests that the use of ART considerably improves survival of people living with HIV/AIDS by reducing the frequency of AIDS-related events. 5,6 Despite these efforts and successeses, there is still a large burden of HIV-related morbidity and mortality, notably due to complications that are not secondary to immunosuppression. 7,8 Haematological complications are reported to be among the most common nonimmunosuppressive complications of HIV.…”