Identifying gaps in the continuum of care for hypertension and diabetes in two Indian communities.

Background: Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) represent the largest, and fastest growing, burden of disease in India. This study aimed to quantify levels of diagnosis, treatment, and control among hypertensive and diabetic patients, and to describe demand- and supply-side barriers to hypertension and diabetes diagnosis and care in two Indian districts, Shimla and Udaipur.

Methods: We conducted household and health facility surveys, as well as qualitative focus group discussions and interviews.

Predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with utilization of HCV testing services among PWID in two settings in India.

Background: The Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is very common among people who inject drugs (PWID), yet PWID in India have suboptimal access to HCV testing and treatment. This study sought to identify HCV risk factors among male PWID who utilized a free needle and syringe exchange program and to examine the predisposing, enabling, and need factors associated with utilization of HCV testing services by those PWID reporting that they had been tested.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Imphal, Manipur and Amritsar, Punjab.

Integrating adolescent-friendly health services into the public health system: an experience from rural India.

Background: Although India's health policy is directed toward improving adolescent reproductive health, adolescent-friendly health services are scarce. The intervention for "integrating adolescent-friendly health services into the public health system" is an effort to improve the health status of adolescents in rural areas of the Varanasi (Arajiline) and Bangalore (Hosakote) districts in India. The purpose of this article is to describe the features of the intervention and investigate the impact on improving awareness and utilization of services by adolescent as well as quality of ARSH services in the intervention districts.

Pretreatment loss-to-follow-up after HIV diagnosis from 27 counseling and testing centers across India: findings from a cohort study.

Individuals testing HIV positive were interviewed at testing centers, followed prospectively and interviewed again when they registered at referral antiretroviral therapy (ART) centers (ARTCs). Those who did not register at ARTCs were traced and interviewed in the community. A total of 1057 newly diagnosed people living with HIV (PLHIV; 52% women; mean age, 34.

Process evaluation of community care centers providing care, support, and treatment to people living with human immunodeficiency virus in India.

Context: Since 2007, the concept of community care centers (CCC) has evolved to provide care, support, and treatment services to the people living with human immunodeficiency virus in a community-based environment so as to bridge the gap between secondary/tertiary level institutional and home-based care. Monitoring and evaluation, including process evaluation (PE), are integral parts of this scheme.

Objective: This article presents the design of the "PE" for CCC and the results pertaining to the gaps and constraints in the implementation of the scheme.

Impact of targeted interventions on heterosexual transmission of HIV in India.

Background: Targeted interventions (TIs) have been a major strategy for HIV prevention in India. We evaluated the impact of TIs on HIV prevalence in high HIV prevalence southern states (Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra).

Methods: A quasi-experimental approach was used to retrospectively compare changes in HIV prevalence according to the intensity of targeted intervention implementation.

Are persons living with HIV timely accessing ART services in India?

CD4+ T-cell level is one of the important criteria for categorising HIV-related clinical conditions to determine initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART). The present study is undertaken to analyse baseline CD4 count at which persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) were getting registered for ART in India. It also examines the profile of the PLHA with baseline CD4 count over a period of time.

Assessment of ART centres in India: client perspectives.

Drug adherence and quality of antiretroviral therapy (ART) services are the keys for the successful ART programme. Hence, an attempt has been made to assess ART centres in India from client perspectives that are receiving services from the centres. Data were gathered through exit interviews with 1366 clients from 27 ART centres that were selected on the basis of drug adherence and client load.