Estimation of antiretroviral therapy coverage: methodology and trends.
OBJECTIVE
To present the methodology used to calculate coverage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and review global and regional trends in ART coverage.


RESULTS
There has been a steady increase in ART coverage over the last decade with a more rapid increase in recent years. Current estimates of ART coverage are 43% for adults and 38% for children (ages 0-14 years). Methods for calculating coverage rely on good-quality patient monitoring systems in countries, and well informed models are needed to estimate the number of people in need of treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
The estimated coverage rates show that ART programs have improved over the past 8 years; however, approximately 58% (53-60%) of those people in need of ART are still not on treatment. High quality data are needed to accurately measure changes in ART coverage.
Mahy
Mary
M
UNAIDS, Epidemiology and Analysis Division, Geneva, Switzerland. mahym@unaids.org
Tassie
Jean-Michel
JM
Ghys
Peter D
PD
Stover
John
J
Beusenberg
Michel
M
Akwara
Priscilla
P
Souteyrand
Yves
Y
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection / Q000379:methods; D003906:Developing Countries; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control; D006291:Health Policy; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015397:Program Evaluation
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents