Effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected children in sub-Saharan Africa.
Assessment of antiretroviral treatment programmes for HIV-infected children in sub-Saharan Africa is important to enable the development of effective care and improve treatment outcomes. We review the effectiveness of paediatric antiretroviral treatment programmes in sub-Saharan Africa and discuss the implications of these findings for the care and treatment of HIV-infected children in this region. Available reports indicate that programmes in sub-Saharan Africa achieve treatment outcomes similar to those in North America and Europe. However, progress in several areas is required to improve the care of HIV-infected children in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings emphasise the need for low-cost diagnostic tests that allow for earlier identification of HIV infection in infants living in sub-Saharan Africa, improved access to antiretroviral treatment programmes, including expansion of care into rural areas, and the integration of antiretroviral treatment programmes with other health-care services, such as nutritional support.
Sutcliffe
Catherine G
CG
Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. csutclif@ihsph.edu
van Dijk
Janneke H
JH
Bolton
Carolyn
C
Persaud
Deborah
D
Moss
William J
WJ
D000293:Adolescent; D017954:Africa South of the Sahara; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1 / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009313:National Health Programs; D010349:Patient Compliance; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D018894:Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors