title: Leveraging HIV Programming to Enhance Access to Noncommunicable Disease Care in Southern Botswana.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to assess whether HIV programming in southern Botswana could be leveraged to provide care for patients with noncommunicable diseases (NCDs).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective analysis was performed to determine the spectrum and complexity of NCDs seen by HIV-focused outreach programming delivered between July 2011 and December 2013, to 9 facilities in southern Botswana. The association of HIV status and specific International Classification of Disease codes was examined using bivariate analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outreach HIV physicians recorded 926 outpatient consults involving 835 patients during the studied period. While 25% (n=209) of patients seen were HIV infected, most patients were either HIV negative (49%, n=410) or had an unknown HIV status (26%, n=216). Noncommunicable disease referrals were as common at primary- and district-level facilities (90% [n=459] versus 93% [n=301]; P=.22).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates how HIV programming in Botswana can be leveraged to improve access to specialist medical services for patients with NCDs.
authors: Botswana-UPenn Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors: Michael J A
authors: MJ
authors: Reid
authors: Botswana-UPenn Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA Denver Metro Tuberculosis Clinic, Denver Public Health, Denver, Colorado, CO, USA Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Colorado-Denver, Denver, Colorado, CO, USA.
authors: Michelle K
authors: MK
authors: Haas
authors: Botswana-UPenn Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors: Pinkie
authors: P
authors: Sedigeng
authors: Botswana-UPenn Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA School of Medicine, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
authors: Doreen
authors: D
authors: Ramogola-Masire
authors: Botswana-UPenn Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
authors: Harvey M
authors: HM
authors: Friedman
authors: Botswana-UPenn Partnership, Gaborone, Botswana Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA ho-fostera@botswana-upenn.co.bw.
authors: Ari
authors: A
authors: Ho-Foster
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001902:Botswana / Q000453:epidemiology; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D005791:Patient Care; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: HIV; PEPFAR; noncommunicable diseases; sub-Saharan Africa