Leveraging Rapid Community-Based HIV Testing Campaigns for Non-Communicable Diseases in Rural Uganda

Reference Type:
Journal Article

Secondary Title:

Series Title:

Author(s):
Chamie, Gabriel
Kwarisiima, Dalsone
Clark, Tamara D.
Kabami, Jane
Jain, Vivek
Geng, Elvin
Petersen, Maya L.
Thirumurthy, Harsha
Kamya, Moses R.
Havlir, Diane V.
Charlebois, Edwin D.
the SEARCH Collaboration

Editor(s):

Series Author(s):

Year Published:
2012

Date Published:

Journal Name:
PLoS One

Volume Number:
7

Issue Number:
8

Start Page Number:
e43400

End Page Number:

Edition:

Series Volume:

Publisher:

City of Publication:

ISSN/ISBN:

DOI:
10.1371/journal.pone.0043400

PMCID:
PMC3423366

NIHMSID:

Reference ID:
5458

Miscellaneous:

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: The high burden of undiagnosed HIV in sub-Saharan Africa limits treatment and prevention efforts. Community-based HIV testing campaigns can address this challenge and provide an untapped opportunity to identify non-communicable diseases (NCDs). We tested the feasibility and diagnostic yield of integrating NCD and communicable diseases into a rapid HIV testing and referral campaign for all residents of a rural Ugandan parish. METHODS: A five-day, multi-disease campaign, offering diagnostic, preventive, treatment and referral services, was performed in May 2011. Services included point-of-care screening for HIV, malaria, TB, hypertension and diabetes. Finger-prick diagnostics eliminated the need for phlebotomy. HIV-infected adults met clinic staff and peer counselors on-site; those with CD4</=100, 83% linked and started ART within 10 days. Malaria was identified in 10% of children, and hypertension and diabetes in 28% and 3.5% of adults screened, respectively. Sixty-five percent of hypertensives and 23% of diabetics were new diagnoses, of which 43% and 61% linked to care, respectively. Screening identified suspected TB in 87% of HIV-infected and 19% of HIV-uninfected adults; 52% percent of HIV-uninfected TB suspects linked to care. CONCLUSIONS: In an integrated campaign engaging 74% of adult residents, we identified a high burden of undiagnosed HIV, hypertension and diabetes. Improving male attendance and optimizing linkage to care require new approaches. The campaign demonstrates the feasibility of integrating hypertension, diabetes and communicable diseases into HIV initiatives.

Keyword(s):

URL:

http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0043400

Notes:

RIS Export File:
Octet Stream icon

5458.ris — Octet Stream, 2 kB (2,202 bytes)

Citation:

Chamie, Gabriel; Kwarisiima, Dalsone; Clark, Tamara D.; Kabami, Jane; Jain, Vivek; Geng, Elvin; Petersen, Maya L.; Thirumurthy, Harsha; Kamya, Moses R.; Havlir, Diane V.; Charlebois, Edwin D.; & the SEARCH Collaboration. (2012). Leveraging Rapid Community-Based HIV Testing Campaigns for Non-Communicable Diseases in Rural Uganda. PLoS One, 7(8), e43400. PMCID: PMC3423366