Cost analysis of adding hypertension and diabetes management into routine HIV care in Mbarara and Ibanda districts, Uganda.

Background: In 2016, Uganda introduced services for hypertension and diabetes in selected HIV clinics. We evaluated the costs associated with scaling up these services in HIV clinics in Mbarara and Ibanda districts, Uganda.

Methods: We estimated the annual costs of providing hypertension and diabetes services using an activity-based costing approach from the health system perspective in ten randomly selected HIV clinics in Mbarara and Ibanda districts.

Integrated management of HIV, diabetes, and hypertension in sub-Saharan Africa (INTE-AFRICA): a pragmatic cluster-randomised, controlled trial.

Background: In sub-Saharan Africa, health-care provision for chronic conditions is fragmented. The aim of this study was to determine whether integrated management of HIV, diabetes, and hypertension led to improved rates of retention in care for people with diabetes or hypertension without adversely affecting rates of HIV viral suppression among people with HIV when compared to standard vertical care in medium and large health facilities in Uganda and Tanzania.

Methods: In INTE-AFRICA, a pragmatic cluster-randomised, controlled trial, we randomly allocated primary health-care facilities in Uganda and Tanzania to provide either integrated care or standard care for HIV, diabetes, and hypertension.

Cervical Cancer Screening Positivity Among Women Living With HIV in CDC-PEPFAR Programs 2018-2022.

Background: The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief aims to address the higher risk of cervical cancer among women living with HIV by offering high-quality screening services in the highest burden regions of the world.

Methods: We analyzed the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-supported sites in 13 countries in sub-Saharan Africa for women living with HIV aged older than 15 years who accessed cervical cancer screening services (mostly visual inspection, with ablative or excisional treatment offered for precancerous lesions), April 2018-March 2022. We calculated the positivity by age, country, and clinical visit type (first lifetime screen or routine rescreening).

Mobile Phone-based Intervention to promote un-interrupted HIV treatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Keeping HIV-infected adults away from the health care system during the COVID-19 travel restrictions, presents a challenge to HIV treatment adherence.

Methods: This study focused on the initial two phases where Phase 1 designed a Makerere College of Health Sciences (MakCHS) Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD)-based application; and Phase 2 piloted patient enrolment onto the application and determined the feasibility of remote follow-up of patients receiving long-term antiretroviral therapy (ART).

Results: A off/online user application, MakCHS Health app, was developed.

Cryptococcal Antigenemia in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Antiretroviral Therapy-Experienced Ugandans With Virologic Failure.

Background: Detectable serum or plasma cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) precedes symptomatic cryptococcal meningitis. The World Health Organization recommends CrAg screening for human immunodeficiency virus-positive persons with CD4 count <100 cells/μL initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART). However, an increasing proportion of patients with cryptococcosis are now ART experienced.