Implementation of the advanced HIV disease package of care using a public health approach: lessons from Nigeria

Abstract Background Nigeria adapted the WHO package of care for Advanced HIV Disease (AHD) in 2020. The package includes CD4 + cell count testing to identify People Living with HIV (PLHIV) with AHD, screening and treatment of opportunistic infections, rapid antiretrovirals (ART) initiation, and inte...

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Main Authors: Williams Eigege, Oche Agbaji, Nere Otubu, Opeyemi Abudiore, Oluwakemi Sowale, Boma Levy-Braide, Asari Inyang, Dinesh Rathakrishnan, Ikechukwu Amamilo, James Conroy, Folu Lufadeju, Carolyn Amole, Owens Wiwa, Dennis Onotu, Khalil Sanni, Peter Nwaokenneya, Mohammed Patiko, Akudo Ikpeazu, Stephen Oguche, Rita Oladele, Sulaimon Akanmu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-12-01
Series:BMC Public Health
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20841-x
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author Williams Eigege
Oche Agbaji
Nere Otubu
Opeyemi Abudiore
Oluwakemi Sowale
Boma Levy-Braide
Asari Inyang
Dinesh Rathakrishnan
Ikechukwu Amamilo
James Conroy
Folu Lufadeju
Carolyn Amole
Owens Wiwa
Dennis Onotu
Khalil Sanni
Peter Nwaokenneya
Mohammed Patiko
Akudo Ikpeazu
Stephen Oguche
Rita Oladele
Sulaimon Akanmu
author_facet Williams Eigege
Oche Agbaji
Nere Otubu
Opeyemi Abudiore
Oluwakemi Sowale
Boma Levy-Braide
Asari Inyang
Dinesh Rathakrishnan
Ikechukwu Amamilo
James Conroy
Folu Lufadeju
Carolyn Amole
Owens Wiwa
Dennis Onotu
Khalil Sanni
Peter Nwaokenneya
Mohammed Patiko
Akudo Ikpeazu
Stephen Oguche
Rita Oladele
Sulaimon Akanmu
author_sort Williams Eigege
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Nigeria adapted the WHO package of care for Advanced HIV Disease (AHD) in 2020. The package includes CD4 + cell count testing to identify People Living with HIV (PLHIV) with AHD, screening and treatment of opportunistic infections, rapid antiretrovirals (ART) initiation, and intensive adherence follow-up. The national program adopted a phased approach in the rollout of the AHD package of care to learn lessons from a few representative health facilities before scaling up across the country. This study describes the process and lessons learned from the first phase of implementation. Methods This was a prospective observational study, and participants were enrolled between February and September 2021. Healthcare-worker (HCW) capacity was built to implement the AHD package of care. The study population included newly diagnosed PLHIV ≥ 10 years presenting to care in 28 selected facilities across 4 states in Nigeria. Eligible participants received CD4 + cell testing at baseline. Those with CD4 + cell count < 200 cells/mm3 were subjected to a blood cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) test and urine TB lateral flow lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM). Those with positive CrAg tests had a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test to confirm cryptococcal meningitis. Those negative for both blood CrAg and TB LF-LAM were rapidly initiated on ART and underwent intensive follow-up. Participants were followed up for 12 months. Results A total of 6,781 patients were enrolled; 71% (4,812) received CD4 + cell count test, of which 41% (1,969 of 4812) had a CD4 + count < 200 cells/mm3. Approximately 81% (1,492 of 1,850) of those with CD4 + count < 200 cells/mm3 had TB LF-LAM test results documented; 25% were positive, of which 47% started TB treatment. Blood CrAg screening coverage among those with CD4 + count < 200 cells/mm3 was 88% (1,634 of 1,850), of which 5% (85 of 1,634) were positive. Cotrimoxazole preventive therapy was initiated for 65% (1,198 of 1,850) of the participants with CD4 + count < 200 cells/mm3, and 70% (966 of 1,375) of AHD patients with a negative TB LF-LAM and blood CrAg results were initiated on ART on the day of enrolment. Approximately 91% (421 of 461) of those who received viral load results at month 12 post-enrollment were virally suppressed. The retention rate and the Kaplan Meier survival probability estimate at month 12 were 65% (1,204 of 1,850) and 0.93 (CI, 0.91–0.94), respectively, for the enrolled participants. Conclusion Implementation of the AHD package of care in Nigeria has improved the diagnosis of TB and CM, and will potentially enhance the quality of care for PLHIV if sustained. Findings from this implementation were used to guide national scale-up.
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spelling doaj-art-5b79b6b8a5354ed59f8a64440e4a8f402025-08-20T02:20:38ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582024-12-0124111410.1186/s12889-024-20841-xImplementation of the advanced HIV disease package of care using a public health approach: lessons from NigeriaWilliams Eigege0Oche Agbaji1Nere Otubu2Opeyemi Abudiore3Oluwakemi Sowale4Boma Levy-Braide5Asari Inyang6Dinesh Rathakrishnan7Ikechukwu Amamilo8James Conroy9Folu Lufadeju10Carolyn Amole11Owens Wiwa12Dennis Onotu13Khalil Sanni14Peter Nwaokenneya15Mohammed Patiko16Akudo Ikpeazu17Stephen Oguche18Rita Oladele19Sulaimon Akanmu20Clinton Health Access InitiativeDepartment of Internal Medicine, Jos University Teaching HospitalClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeClinton Health Access InitiativeUS Centres for Disease Control and PreventionNational AIDS and STI Control Programme, Federal Ministry of HealthNational AIDS and STI Control Programme, Federal Ministry of HealthNational AIDS and STI Control Programme, Federal Ministry of HealthNational AIDS and STI Control Programme, Federal Ministry of HealthDepartment of Internal Medicine, Jos University Teaching HospitalDepartment of Microbiology, Lagos University Teaching HospitalDepartment of Haematology, Lagos University Teaching HospitalAbstract Background Nigeria adapted the WHO package of care for Advanced HIV Disease (AHD) in 2020. The package includes CD4 + cell count testing to identify People Living with HIV (PLHIV) with AHD, screening and treatment of opportunistic infections, rapid antiretrovirals (ART) initiation, and intensive adherence follow-up. The national program adopted a phased approach in the rollout of the AHD package of care to learn lessons from a few representative health facilities before scaling up across the country. This study describes the process and lessons learned from the first phase of implementation. Methods This was a prospective observational study, and participants were enrolled between February and September 2021. Healthcare-worker (HCW) capacity was built to implement the AHD package of care. The study population included newly diagnosed PLHIV ≥ 10 years presenting to care in 28 selected facilities across 4 states in Nigeria. Eligible participants received CD4 + cell testing at baseline. Those with CD4 + cell count < 200 cells/mm3 were subjected to a blood cryptococcal antigen (CrAg) test and urine TB lateral flow lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM). Those with positive CrAg tests had a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) test to confirm cryptococcal meningitis. Those negative for both blood CrAg and TB LF-LAM were rapidly initiated on ART and underwent intensive follow-up. Participants were followed up for 12 months. Results A total of 6,781 patients were enrolled; 71% (4,812) received CD4 + cell count test, of which 41% (1,969 of 4812) had a CD4 + count < 200 cells/mm3. Approximately 81% (1,492 of 1,850) of those with CD4 + count < 200 cells/mm3 had TB LF-LAM test results documented; 25% were positive, of which 47% started TB treatment. Blood CrAg screening coverage among those with CD4 + count < 200 cells/mm3 was 88% (1,634 of 1,850), of which 5% (85 of 1,634) were positive. Cotrimoxazole preventive therapy was initiated for 65% (1,198 of 1,850) of the participants with CD4 + count < 200 cells/mm3, and 70% (966 of 1,375) of AHD patients with a negative TB LF-LAM and blood CrAg results were initiated on ART on the day of enrolment. Approximately 91% (421 of 461) of those who received viral load results at month 12 post-enrollment were virally suppressed. The retention rate and the Kaplan Meier survival probability estimate at month 12 were 65% (1,204 of 1,850) and 0.93 (CI, 0.91–0.94), respectively, for the enrolled participants. Conclusion Implementation of the AHD package of care in Nigeria has improved the diagnosis of TB and CM, and will potentially enhance the quality of care for PLHIV if sustained. Findings from this implementation were used to guide national scale-up.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20841-xAdvanced HIV Disease (AHD)People Living with HIV (PLHIV)CD4+Cryptococcal meningitisTuberculosisAntiretroviral Therapy (ART)
spellingShingle Williams Eigege
Oche Agbaji
Nere Otubu
Opeyemi Abudiore
Oluwakemi Sowale
Boma Levy-Braide
Asari Inyang
Dinesh Rathakrishnan
Ikechukwu Amamilo
James Conroy
Folu Lufadeju
Carolyn Amole
Owens Wiwa
Dennis Onotu
Khalil Sanni
Peter Nwaokenneya
Mohammed Patiko
Akudo Ikpeazu
Stephen Oguche
Rita Oladele
Sulaimon Akanmu
Implementation of the advanced HIV disease package of care using a public health approach: lessons from Nigeria
BMC Public Health
Advanced HIV Disease (AHD)
People Living with HIV (PLHIV)
CD4+
Cryptococcal meningitis
Tuberculosis
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
title Implementation of the advanced HIV disease package of care using a public health approach: lessons from Nigeria
title_full Implementation of the advanced HIV disease package of care using a public health approach: lessons from Nigeria
title_fullStr Implementation of the advanced HIV disease package of care using a public health approach: lessons from Nigeria
title_full_unstemmed Implementation of the advanced HIV disease package of care using a public health approach: lessons from Nigeria
title_short Implementation of the advanced HIV disease package of care using a public health approach: lessons from Nigeria
title_sort implementation of the advanced hiv disease package of care using a public health approach lessons from nigeria
topic Advanced HIV Disease (AHD)
People Living with HIV (PLHIV)
CD4+
Cryptococcal meningitis
Tuberculosis
Antiretroviral Therapy (ART)
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-024-20841-x
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