title: Positive Charge: Filling the Gaps in the U.S. HIV Continuum of Care.
abstract: Adequate engagement in HIV care is necessary for the achievement of optimal health outcomes and for the reduction of HIV transmission. Positive Charge (PC) was a national HIV linkage and re-engagement in care program implemented by AIDS United. This study describes three PC programs, the characteristics of their participants, and the continuum of engagement in care for their participants. Eighty-eight percent of participants were engaged in care post PC enrollment. Sixty-nine percent were retained in care, and 46 % were virally suppressed at follow-up. Older participants were more likely to be engaged, retained, and virally suppressed. Differences by race and gender in HIV care and treatment varied across PC programs, reflecting the diverse target populations, locations, and strategies employed by the PC grantees. There is an urgent need for programs that promote HIV care and treatment among vulnerable populations, including young people living with HIV. There is also an urgent need for additional research to test the effectiveness of promising linkage and retention in care strategies, such as peer navigation.
authors: Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Room 904C, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA. cmaulsby@jhsph.edu.
authors: Cathy
authors: C
authors: Maulsby
authors: AIDS United, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Vignetta
authors: V
authors: Charles
authors: AIDS United, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Suzanne
authors: S
authors: Kinsky
authors: AIDS United, Washington, DC, USA.
authors: Maura
authors: M
authors: Riordan
authors: Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Room 904C, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors: Kriti
authors: K
authors: Jain
authors: Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 624 N. Broadway, Room 904C, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.
authors: David
authors: D
authors: Holtgrave
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010352:Patient Dropouts / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D019562:Viral Load; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Continuum of care; HIV cascade; HIV linkage to care; HIV retention in care; Program evaluation; Spectrum of engagement in care