Evaluating the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of health facility-based and community-based index-linked HIV testing strategies for children: protocol for the B-GAP study in Zimbabwe

作者：Chido Dziva Chikwari, Victoria Simms, Stefanie Dringus, Katharina Kranzer, Tsitsi Bandason, Arthi Vasantharoopan, Rudo Chikodzore, Edwin Sibanda, Miriam Mutseta, Karen Webb, Barbara Engelsmann, Gertrude Ncube, Hilda Mujuru, Tsitsi Apollo, Helen A. Weiss, Rashida A. Ferrand · 发表于：BMJ Open · 年份：2019 · DOI：10.1136/bmjopen-2019-029428 · 被引用次数：16 · 研究领域：HIV/AIDS Research and Interventions、HIV Research and Treatment、HIV/AIDS drug development and treatment

INTRODUCTION: The number of new paediatric infections per year has declined in sub-Saharan Africa due to prevention-of-mother-to-child HIV transmission programmes; many children and adolescents living with HIV remain undiagnosed. In this protocol paper, we describe the methodology for evaluating an index-linked HIV testing approach for children aged 2-18 years in health facility and community settings in Zimbabwe. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: Individuals attending for HIV care at selected primary healthcare clinics (PHCs) will be asked if they have any children aged 2-18 years in their households who have not been tested for HIV. Three options for HIV testing for these children will be offered: testing at the PHC; home-based testing performed by community workers; or an oral mucosal HIV test given to the caregiver to test the children at home. All eligible children will be followed-up to ascertain whether HIV testing occurred. For those who did not test, reasons will be determined, and for those who tested, the HIV test result will be recorded. The primary outcome will be uptake of HIV testing. The secondary outcomes will be preferred HIV testing method, HIV yield, prevalence and proportion of those testing positive linking to care and having an undetectable viral load at 12 months. HIV test results will be stratified by sex and age group, and factors associated with uptake of HIV testing and choice of HIV testing method will be investigated. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approv...