TY - JOUR
T1 - Implementation of a Peer HIV Community Support Worker Program in Rural Ethiopia to Promote Retention in Care
AU - Lifson, Alan R.
AU - Workneh, Sale
AU - Hailemichael, Abera
AU - Demisse, Workneh
AU - Slater, Lucy
AU - Shenie, Tibebe
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2014.
PY - 2017/1
Y1 - 2017/1
N2 - Retention in care is a major challenge for HIV treatment programs, including in rural and in resource-limited settings. To help reduce loss to follow-up (LTFU) for HIV-infected patients new to care in rural Ethiopia, 142 patients were assigned 1 of 13 trained community health support workers (CHSWs) who were HIV positive and from the same neighborhood/village. The CHSWs provided HIV and health education, counseling/social support, and facilitated communication with the HIV clinics. With 7 deaths and 3 transfers, the 12-month retention rate was 94% (95% CI = 89%-97%), and no client was LTFU in the project. Between enrollment and 12 months, clients had significant (P ≤.001) improvements in HIV knowledge (17% increase), physical and mental quality of life (81% and 21% increase), internalized stigma (97% decrease), and perceived social support (24% increase). In rural and resource-limited settings, community-based CHSW programs can complement facility-based care in reducing LTFU and improving positive outcomes for HIV-infected people who enter care.
AB - Retention in care is a major challenge for HIV treatment programs, including in rural and in resource-limited settings. To help reduce loss to follow-up (LTFU) for HIV-infected patients new to care in rural Ethiopia, 142 patients were assigned 1 of 13 trained community health support workers (CHSWs) who were HIV positive and from the same neighborhood/village. The CHSWs provided HIV and health education, counseling/social support, and facilitated communication with the HIV clinics. With 7 deaths and 3 transfers, the 12-month retention rate was 94% (95% CI = 89%-97%), and no client was LTFU in the project. Between enrollment and 12 months, clients had significant (P ≤.001) improvements in HIV knowledge (17% increase), physical and mental quality of life (81% and 21% increase), internalized stigma (97% decrease), and perceived social support (24% increase). In rural and resource-limited settings, community-based CHSW programs can complement facility-based care in reducing LTFU and improving positive outcomes for HIV-infected people who enter care.
KW - HIV
KW - community health workers
KW - retention in care
KW - rural health
KW - social support
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U2 - 10.1177/2325957415614648
DO - 10.1177/2325957415614648
M3 - Article
C2 - 26518590
AN - SCOPUS:85009808407
SN - 2325-9574
VL - 16
SP - 75
EP - 80
JO - Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
JF - Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care
IS - 1
ER -
