TITLE:
Do Community-Based Programs Help to Improve HIV Treatment and Health Outcomes? A Review of the Literature
AUTHORS:
Ugo Amanyeiwe, Suzanne Leclerc-Madlala, Hannah Gardi
KEYWORDS:
HIV/AIDS, ARV Treatment, Care, Community-Based Programs
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.4 No.3,
August
22,
2014
ABSTRACT: Increased availability of
antiretroviral treatment for HIV makes the goal of universal access attainable.
However, in most resource constrained settings where existing health systems
arelargely dysfunctional, major barriers to achieving this goal remain.
While treatments with antiretroviral drugs (ART) are the focal point of HIV
management, it is increasingly recognized that ART alone will not be sufficient
to adequately deal with the lifelong consequences of the disease. In addition,
the current global economic downturn will continue to impact on funding for HIV
care and support, making the search for sustainable solutions more urgent. This
article reviews the current evidence base on the impact of community-based
programs on HIV/AIDS treatment and general health outcomes, as well as their
contribution to ensuring sustained care for HIV-positive people. Our findings
suggest that these programs overall have a positive impact on various
dimensions of HIV treatment and care, and make a significant contribution to
health and HIV outcomes. The authors argue that better use of community
platforms for HIV treatment and care programs could be critical for attaining
desired goals and should be prioritized at all levels of program design, implementation,
and monitoring and evaluation.