Many in Africa don't continue HIV treatment

Over a third of those receiving anti-HIV medication in Africa either die or discontinue their treatment within two years, a new study has revealed.

The survey, undertaken by researchers at Boston University and published in the Public Library of Science journal, discovered that of the 39 per cent of those who did not continue their treatment for up to two years, 40 per cent had died.

Of the reminder, reasons given for not continuing HIV treatment included missing scheduled appointments, not picking up medicines or being transferred to alternative clinics.

The report's authors concluded: "Better patient tracing procedures, better understanding of loss to follow-up and earlier initiation of ART to reduce mortality are needed if retention is to be improved.

"Retention varies widely across programs, and programs that have achieved higher retention rates can serve as models for future improvements," they added.

Earlier this year the World Health Organisation reported an increase in access to HIV treatment in low and middle-income countries, with more than two million people living with HIV/AIDS receiving treatment in December 2006, a 54 per cent increase on the same period a year before.

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