Testing modality associated with fast‐track ART initiation in Botswana

Abstract

Botswana has a high HIV prevalence, with 19.9% of adults living with HIV as of 2020 [1]. Botswana has made remarkable progress in responding to the HIV epidemic by expanding antiretroviral treatment (ART) coverage from 50% to 84% between 2010 and 2017 [1]. In 2016, the Ministry of Health and Wellness (MOHW) adopted the 2015 WHO Guidelines recommending ART initiation for all adults living with HIV irrespective of CD4 cell count [2].Timely access to ART is associated with a reduction in mortality and onward transmission of HIV [3,4]. WHO promotes using different HIV testing approaches, including facility and community testing services [5]. Starting in 2015,

Does HIV index testing bring patients into treatment at earlier stages of HIV disease? Results from a retrospective study in Ukraine

“…Our findings about the timing of ART initiation in index testing programs are in line with prior research, which has shown similar associations between timely linkage to ART care for patients diagnosed through index testing programs as compared to other testing modalities, perhaps due to the personalized and proactive approach of index testing as well as improved quality of care through additional training providers may receive as part of the index testing implementation [ 11 , 12 , 29 , 30 ]. Timely ART initiation can reduce HIV-associated morbidity and mortality and decrease the likelihood of HIV transmission by more quickly achieving viral suppression [ 31 – 34 ].…”