Characterizing a Leak in the HIV Care Cascade: Assessing Linkage Between HIV Testing and Care in Tanzania.

In Tanzania, HIV testing data are reported aggregately for national surveillance, making it difficult to accurately measure the extent to which newly diagnosed persons are entering care, which is a critical step of the HIV care cascade. We assess, at the individual level, linkage of newly diagnosed persons to HIV care. An expanded two-part referral form was developed to include additional variables and unique identifiers.

Epidemiological profile of individuals diagnosed with HIV: results from the preliminary phase of case-based surveillance in Kenya.

Understanding the characteristics of individuals who are newly diagnosed with HIV is critical to controlling the HIV epidemic. Characterizing this population can improve strategies to identify undiagnosed positives and assist in targeting the provision of HIV services to improve health outcomes. We describe the characteristics of newly diagnosed HIV cases in western Kenya from 124 health facilities.

Changes in patterns of retention in HIV care and antiretroviral treatment in Tanzania between 2008 and 2016: an analysis of routinely collected national programme data.

Background: Tanzania is a high HIV burden country in Sub-Saharan Africa with 1.5 million people infected. Unless monitored and responded to, low levels of retention in care may lead to poor HIV associated clinical outcomes and an increased likelihood of onward viral transmission.

Evaluation of an HIV-Related Mortuary Surveillance System - Nairobi, Kenya, Two Sites, 2015.

Problem/condition: Use of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-mortality surveillance data can help public health officials monitor, evaluate, and improve HIV treatment programs. Many high-income countries have high-coverage civil registration and vital statistics (CRVS) systems linked to case-based HIV surveillance on which to base HIV mortality estimates. However, in the absence of comprehensive CRVS systems in low- and medium-income countries, such as Kenya, mortuary surveillance can be used to understand the occurrence of HIV infection among cadavers.

Where No Universal Health Care Identifier Exists: Comparison and Determination of the Utility of Score-Based Persons Matching Algorithms Using Demographic Data.

Background: A universal health care identifier (UHID) facilitates the development of longitudinal medical records in health care settings where follow up and tracking of persons across health care sectors are needed. HIV case-based surveillance (CBS) entails longitudinal follow up of HIV cases from diagnosis, linkage to care and treatment, and is recommended for second generation HIV surveillance. In the absence of a UHID, records matching, linking, and deduplication may be done using score-based persons matching algorithms.

Feasibility of Establishing HIV Case-Based Surveillance to Measure Progress Along the Health Sector Cascade: Situational Assessments in Tanzania, South Africa, and Kenya.

Background: To track the HIV epidemic and responses to it, the World Health Organization recommends 10 global indicators to collect information along the HIV care cascade. Patient diagnosis and medical record data, harnessed through case-based surveillance (CBS), can be used to measure 8 of these. While many high burden countries have well-established systems for monitoring patients on HIV treatment, few have formally adopted CBS.