title: Characteristics of patients accessing care and treatment for HIV/AIDS at public and nongovernmental sites in South Africa.
abstract: Little is known about the characteristics of patients accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) in South Africa. In a random sample of 1069 pre-ART and ART patients attending an urban public hospital, a periurban nongovernmental organization (NGO) clinic, and a rural NGO clinic, 79% were female; average age was 34 for women and 37 for men. Two thirds reported having 1 long-term partner, but most did not live with their partner. Three fourths had completed some secondary school or higher; 47% were employed formally (26%) or informally (21%), and 40% lived in informal housing or shacks. Patients at the rural site were less likely to be employed and more likely to receive government grant support. Relative to the HIV-positive population as a whole, ART patients are older, more likely to be female and have 1 long-term partner, live in informal housing, have reached secondary school, and earn an income from formal or informal employment.
authors.affiliation: Center for International Health and Development, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. sbrosen@bu.edu
authors.forename: Sydney
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Mpefe
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ketlhapile
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sanne
authors.forename: Mary Bachman
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: DeSilva
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017149:Private Sector; D017150:Public Sector; D012424:Rural Population; D012923:Social Class; D013019:South Africa; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents