Progress towards the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets among persons aged 50 and older living with HIV in 13 African countries.

Introduction: Achieving optimal HIV outcomes, as measured by global 90-90-90 targets, that is awareness of HIV-positive status, receipt of antiretroviral (ARV) therapy among aware and viral load (VL) suppression among those on ARVs, respectively, is critical. However, few data from sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are available on older people (50+) living with HIV (OPLWH). We examined 90-90-90 progress by age, 15-49 (as a comparison) and 50+ years, with further analyses among 50+ (55-59, 60-64, 65+ vs.

Evaluation of the uptake of tuberculosis preventative therapy for people living with HIV in Namibia: a multiple methods analysis.

Background: In 2016, Namibia had ~ 230,000 people living with HIV (PLHIV) and 9154 new tuberculosis (TB) cases, including 3410 (38%) co-infected cases. TB preventative therapy (TPT), consisting of intensive case finding and isoniazid preventative therapy, is critical to reducing TB disease and mortality.

Methods: Between November 2014 and February 2015, data was abstracted from charts of PLHIV enrolled in HIV treatment.

Task-shifting point-of-care CD4+ testing to lay health workers in HIV care and treatment services in Namibia.

Introduction: Access to CD4+ testing remains a common barrier to early initiation of antiretroviral therapy among persons living with HIV/AIDS in low- and middle-income countries. The feasibility of task-shifting of point-of-care (POC) CD4+ testing to lay health workers in Namibia has not been evaluated.

Methods: From July to August 2011, Pima CD4+ analysers were used to improve access to CD4+ testing at 10 selected public health facilities in Namibia.

A quality improvement approach to capacity building in low- and middle-income countries.

Objectives: To describe the HEALTHQUAL framework consisting of the following three components: performance measurement, quality improvement and the quality management program, representing an adaptive approach to building capacity in national quality management programs in low and middle-income countries.

Design: We present a case study from Namibia illustrating how this approach is adapted to country context.

Methods: HEALTHQUAL partners with Ministries of Health to build knowledge and expertise in modern improvement methods, including data collection, analysis and reporting, process analysis and the use of data to implement quality improvement projects that aim to improve systems and processes of care.

Nurse task shifting for antiretroviral treatment services in Namibia: implementation research to move evidence into action.

Background: Evidence from several sub-Saharan countries support nurse-initiated antiretroviral treatment as a feasible alternative to doctor-led models characteristic of early responses to the HIV epidemic. However, service delivery models shown to be effective in one country may not be readily adopted in another. This study used an implementation research approach to assist policy makers and other stakeholders to assess the acceptability and feasibility of task shifting in the Namibian context.