Five-year experience with scaling-up access to antiretroviral treatment in an HIV care programme in Cambodia.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate a 5-year HIV care programme (2003-2007) in the Sihanouk Hospital Center of HOPE, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. METHODS: Analysis of routine programme indicators per year: number of new patients, active patients, antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage in the cohort, mortality and loss to follow-up. Comparison of mortality before and after the start of ART using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Analysis of risk factors using Cox regression for the combined endpoint of mortality and loss to follow-up in patients on ART. RESULTS: 3844 patients were registered in the hospital between March 2003 and December 2007. The mortality and loss to follow-up rate fell and paralleled the rise of ART coverage from 23% in 2003 to 90% in 2007. The mortality and the loss to follow-up rate was significantly higher in patients not on ART but eligible (Log rank P < 0.001). The combined endpoint of mortality and loss to follow-up was 48.7% after one year in patients who were waiting for ART. 1667 patients were started on ART. The combined endpoint (mortality and loss to follow-up) in this group was 11.5% at 12 months and 14.2% at 24 months. Risk factors for mortality in the ART group were male sex, CD4 count <50 cells/microl, BMI <18 and haemoglobin levels <10 g/dl. CONCLUSION: Better access to ART is associated with lower mortality and fewer losses to follow-up. Pre-ART attrition remains significant. Strategies are needed to enable an earlier start of ART and to promote retention in care

Mobile Link – a theory-based messaging intervention for improving sexual and reproductive health of female entertainment workers in Cambodia: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial

Abstract Background In Cambodia, HIV prevalence is concentrated in key populations including among female entertainment workers (FEWs) who may engage in direct or indirect sex work. Reaching FEWs with sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services has been difficult because of their hidden and stigmatized nature. Mobile-phone-based interventions may be an effective way to reach this population and connect them with the existing services. This article describes study design and implementation of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a mobile health intervention (the Mobile Link) aiming to improve SRH and related outcomes among FEWs in Cambodia. Methods A two-arm RCT will be used to determine the effectiveness of a mobile-phone-based text/voice messaging intervention. The intervention will be developed through a participatory process. Focus group discussions and in-depth interviews have been conducted to inform and tailor behavior change theory-based text and voice messages. During the implementation phase, 600 FEWs will be recruited and randomly assigned into one of the two arms: (1) a control group and (2) a mobile phone message group (either text messages [SMS] or voice messages [VM], a delivery method chosen by participants). Participants in the control group will also receive a weekly monitoring survey, which will provide real-time information to implementing partners to streamline outreach efforts and be able to quickly identify geographic trends. The primary outcome measures will include self-reported HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STI) testing and treatment, condom use, contraceptive use, and gender-based violence (GBV). Discussion If the Mobile Link trial is successful, participants will report an increase in condom use, linkages to screening and treatment for HIV and STI, and contraception use as well as a reduction in GBV. This trial is unique in a number of ways. First, the option of participation mode (SMS or VM) allows participants to choose the message medium that best links them to services. Second, this is the first RCT of a mobile-phone-based behavior change intervention using SMS/VMs to support linkage to SRH services in Cambodia. Lastly, we are working with a hidden, hard-to-reach, and dynamic population with which existing methods of outreach have not been fully successful. Trial registration Clinical trials.gov, NCT03117842. Registered on 31 March 2017