Survey on Pediatric HIV Treatment in Asia and Southern Africa
Author Information
Author(s): Annette Sohn, Mary-Ann Davies
Primary Institution: TREAT Asia/amfAR - The Foundation for AIDS Research
Hypothesis
What is the current state of first-line treatment failure and second-line antiretroviral access for children in Asia and Southern Africa?
Conclusion
To provide lifelong ART for children, better use of first-line regimens and broader access to second-line formulations are needed.
Supporting Evidence
- 10% of Asian and 3.3% of African children were on second-line ART at the time of data transfer.
- Median age at second-line initiation was 120 months in Asia and 66 months in Southern Africa.
- Regimens varied widely, with less than 5% of children in each region using the WHO-recommended combination of abacavir and didanosine.
Takeaway
This study looked at how many kids in Asia and Southern Africa are getting the right medicines for HIV. It found that many kids need better access to second-line treatments.
Methodology
Surveys were conducted in April 2009, collecting data from 12 centers in Asia and 10 centers in Southern Africa.
Potential Biases
The results may not be generalizable due to the urban referral center focus.
Limitations
The study is limited by its cross-sectional nature and the urban focus of participating centers.
Participant Demographics
The study included 1301 children from Asia and 4561 from Southern Africa, with a median age of 120 months in Asia and 66 months in Southern Africa.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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