The Meaning of "Rapid" Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation for Adolescents With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Sub-Saharan Africa

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Brian Zanoni, Emory University; Jessica E Haberer, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-09-01
• Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: [e-mail].
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiz548
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
• Volume: 222
• Issue: 5
• Start Page: 705
• End Page: 707
• Grant/Funding Information: B. C. Z. is funded by Grant K23MH114771, and J. E. H. is funded by Grant K24MH114732. Both grants are sponsored by the US National Institute of Mental Health.
• Keywords: Life Sciences & Biomedicine; CHILDREN; CARE; Infectious Diseases; Immunology; Microbiology; OUTCOMES; HIV; LINKAGE; Science & Technology
• Research Categories: Health Sciences, Medicine and Surgery

Abstract

In this issue of the Journal of Infectious Diseases, Tymejczyk, Brazier et al [1] analyzed data from the IeDEA cohort, involving 7 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, to show that adoption of a Treat All approach resulted in increased rapid antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation (ie, within 30 days of enrollment) among young adolescents (age 10–14) with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). These increases were greater in countries that adopted universal Treat All strategies in 2016 compared with countries that implemented pediatric-specific treatment programs in 2013. The authors highlight that reducing barriers to diagnosis, care, and treatment initiation in this key population is critical to improving the overall continuum of care for adolescents with HIV. They should be congratulated for demonstrating strong evidence for the importance and impact of expanding HIV treatment policies for adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa.