Population-based monitoring of HIV drug resistance in Namibia with early warning indicators
In 2009, Namibia selected 5 World Health Organization Early Warning Indicators (EWIs) and piloted abstraction at 9 ART sites: ‘‘ART prescribing practices, patients lost to follow-up at 12 months, patient retention on first-line ART at 12 months, on-time antiretroviral drug pick-up, and antiretroviral drug-supply continuity’’.
Records supported monitoring of 3 of 5 selected EWIs. Nine of 9 (100%) sites met the target of 100% initiated on appropriate first-line regimens. Eight of 9 (89%) sites met the target of #20% lost to follow-up, although 20.8% of ART starters (range: 4.6%–44.6%) had a period of absence without documented ART coverage of 2.3 months (range: 1.5–3.9 months). Six of 9 (67%) sites met the target of 0% switched to a second-line regimen.
© 2010 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Reproduced with permission.