The state of the pediatric HIV epidemic in Lesotho.

Objective: Lesotho does not have reliable data on HIV prevalence in children, relying on estimates generated from program data. The 2016 Lesotho Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (LePHIA) aimed to determine HIV prevalence among children 0-14 years to assess the effectiveness of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) program and guide future policy.

Methods: A nationally representative sample of children under 15 years underwent household-based, two-stage HIV testing from November 2016-May 2017.

High HIV prevalence and associated factors in Lesotho: Results from a population-based survey.

Despite extensive global efforts, sub-Saharan Africa remains disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. This generalized epidemic can be seen in Lesotho which in 2014 the HIV prevalence rate of those aged 15-49 years was 24.6%, with and incidence of 1.

Effectiveness of a community-based intervention to prevent childhood TB in Lesotho.

Child contact management (CCM) is a recognized strategy to prevent TB; however, implementation is suboptimal. PREVENT was a cluster-randomized trial that evaluated the effectiveness and acceptability of a community-based intervention (CBI) to improve CCM in Lesotho. Ten health facilities (HFs) were randomized to CBI or standard-of-care (SOC).

Improving child tuberculosis contact identification and screening in Lesotho: Results from a mixed-methods cluster-randomized implementation science study.

Background: Child tuberculosis (TB) contact management is recommended for preventing TB in children but its implementation is suboptimal in high TB/HIV-burden settings. The PREVENT Study was a mixed-methods, clustered-randomized implementation study that evaluated the effectiveness and acceptability of a community-based intervention (CBI) to improve child TB contact management in Lesotho, a high TB burden country.

Methods: Ten health facilities were randomized to CBI or standard of care (SOC).