Effects of Alcohol Use on Patient Retention in HIV Care in East Africa.

We sought to investigate the association between hazardous alcohol use and gaps in care for people living with HIV over a long-term follow-up period. Adults who had participated in our previously published Phase I study of hazardous alcohol use at HIV programs in Kenya and Uganda were eligible at their 42 to 48 month follow-up visit. Those who re-enrolled were followed for an additional ~ 12 months.

Social support and the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic among a cohort of people living with HIV (PLWH) in Western Kenya.

As coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a pandemic in 2020, countries around the world implemented various prevention strategies, such as banning of public and social gatherings, restriction in movement, etc. These efforts may have had a deleterious effect on already vulnerable populations, including people living with HIV (PLWH). PLWH were concerned about contracting COVID-19, the impact of COVID-19 on their social networks that provide social support, and the continued availability of antiretroviral medications during the pandemic.

Patient perceptions of facilitators and barriers to reducing hazardous alcohol use among people living with HIV in East Africa.

Background: Hazardous alcohol use among people living with HIV is associated with poor outcomes and increased morbidity and mortality. Understanding the hazardous drinking experiences of people living with HIV is needed to reduce their alcohol use.

Methods: We conducted 60 interviews among people living with HIV in East Africa with hazardous drinking histories.

Implementation of HIV care in Western Kenya during corona virus disease 2019 response.

: To ensure the continuity of high-quality HIV care in Kisumu County, Kenya during the corona virus disease 2019 pandemic, the Ministry of Health implemented a strategy to promote physical distancing and corona virus disease 2019 case detection. A total of 23 262 (84.2%) of the 27 641 patients eligible for early refill received an extra 3-month supply of antiretrovirals.

Outcome of delivery and cause-specific mortality and severe morbidity in early infancy: a Kenyan District Hospital birth cohort.

It has proven very difficult to determine the causes of early infant mortality and morbidity in Africa. We undertook a two-year, prospective birth cohort study in a rural Kenyan District Hospital to estimate cause-specific mortality and severe morbidity in infants too young to gain benefit from routine immunization approaches. A total of 2,359 infants eligible for the cohort were delivered.