Moeses Katbi
Medical doctor, Nigeria
Title: EFFECT OF COMMUNITY TREATMENT INITIATIVE ON ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY UPTAKE AMONG LINKAGE-RESISTANT PLHIVs FOLLOWING COMMUNITY DIAGNOSIS
Biography:
Moses Katbi is a UK General Medical Council (GMC) certified medical doctor with immense experience in Public Health in developing countries. Currently, He is leading a USAID funded project on achieving HIV epidemic control in Nigeria. He pioneered a study on novel approach called Strategic Index Case Testing (STRICT) which identifies new infection among sexual partners of PLHIVs published in a peer-reviewed journal. Dr. Katbi has background also in MNCH where he worked towards reducing maternal, newborn and child mortality rates in Nigeria. He initially worked in the UK as emergency medicine physician. His interest is in novel public health program implementation and implementation science research. He has postgraduate degrees in public health and business administration from the UK and USA.
Abstract:
Statement of the problem: A cohort of People Living with HIV (PLHIVs) refused to commence antiretroviral therapy (ART) through conventional linkage methods (self-referral, intra and inter facility referral and community referral). Community Treatment Initiative (CTI) is a community oriented intervention developed to link this group of linkage-resistant PLHIVs to care and treatment in nine program areas across three states in Nigeria. CTI aims to take life-saving treatment to PLHIVs in the community and the confines of their homes.
Methodology and theoretical orientation: A non-controlled Interventional study that evaluates the impact of CTI on ART uptake by examining the proportion of linkage-resistant PLHIVs linked to treatment through CTI in nine high burden program areas. PLHIV data between Octobers – December, 2015 was collected from National HIV registers. A cohort of PLHIVs that rejected linkage to treatment were selected, followed up and offered ART using CTI approach. We analyzed data using excel and SPSS version 20.0. Simple proportion was used to estimate proportion of linkage-resistant PLHIVs, retention and viral suppression rates. Chi square test showed association between categorical variables with level of significance set at P- value less than 0.05.
Findings: A total of 541 (20.4%) PLHIVs seen from October – December, 2015 refused linkage to treatment using conventional linkage methods (P Value <0.0001). 377 (69.7%) of the linkage-resistant PLHIVs were linked to treatment using CTI interventional approach (P Value <0.0001). 332 (88.1%) of PLHIV linked to treatment through CTI were retained in care after a six months observation period (P value <0.0001). 259 (78%) of PLHIVs retained in care attained viral suppression.
CTI is effective in improving linkage of PLHIVs to ART and therefore could be scaled up to increase ART Uptake which may help with control of new infections to achieve epidemic control.