Scaling up access to antiretroviral treatment for HIV infection: the impact of decentralization of healthcare delivery in Cameroon.
BACKGROUND
The independent evaluation of the Cameroonian antiretroviral therapy (ART) Programme, which reached one of the highest coverage in the eligible HIV-infected population (58%) in Sub-Saharan Africa, offered the opportunity to assess ART outcomes in the context of the decentralization of HIV care delivery.


METHODS
A cross-sectional survey (EVAL, ANRS 12-116, 2007) was carried out in a random sample of 3151 HIV-positive patients (response rate 90%) attending 27 treatment centres at the different level of the healthcare delivery (central, provincial and district), as well as in the exhaustive sample of doctors in charge of HIV care in these centres (response rate 92%, n = 97). Multivariate two-level analyses were conducted to assess the impact of the level of healthcare delivery on CD4 cell gains since initiation of treatment and adherence to treatment in the subsample of patients who were ART-treated for 6 months or more (n = 1985).


RESULTS
District treatment centres were characterized by more limited technical and human resources but a lower workload. ART-treated patients followed up in these centres had significantly lower socioeconomic status. After adjustment for other explanatory factors, immunological improvement was similar in patients followed up at the central and district level, whereas adherence to ART was better both at provincial and district levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Success in scaling-up access to ART in Cameroon has been facilitated by decentralization of the healthcare system. Long-term sustainability urgently implies better integration of this HIV-targeted programme in the global healthcare reform of financing mechanisms, management of human resources and drug procurement systems.
Boyer
Sylvie
S
INSERM, U912 (SE4S), Marseille, France. sylvie.boyer@inserm.fr
Eboko
Fred
F
Camara
Mamadou
M
Abé
Claude
C
Nguini
Mathias Eric Owona
ME
Koulla-Shiro
Sinata
S
Moatti
Jean-Paul
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000191:economics; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011057:Politics; D055815:Young Adult