Extending HIV care in resource-limited settings.
Despite the clear benefits of antiretroviral therapy (ART), only three countries in sub-Saharan Africa have achieved the "3 by 5" goal of treating at least half of the persons living with HIV/AIDS who need it. A major obstacle faced by many lower income countries is the establishment of treatment programs in rural areas where there is a scarcity of trained health care providers and infrastructure. This paper reviews published data on rural ART programs in lower income countries to identify necessary components of such a program. No clearly superior model for rural ART delivery has emerged. All programs document the need for expanded physical infrastructure, laboratory development, recruitment/training of additional health care providers, and/or the introduction of new technologies in order to effectively support the needs of ART roll-out.
Wools-Kaloustian
Kara
K
Division of Infectious Diseases, Indiana University School of Medicine,Wishard Memorial Hospital (Room OPW 430),1001 West 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. kwools@iupui.edu.
Kimaiyo
Sylvester
S
D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003906:Developing Countries; D004363:Drug Utilization; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006266:Health Education; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D011204:Poverty Areas; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents