[afro-nets] Horizons Publications Focused on Treatment - Care and Support

[Sherry Hutchinson <SHutchinson@PCDC.ORG>]

Recent Horizons Publications Focused on Treatment, Care, and
Support
------------------------------------------------------------

1. Acceptability of a Modified Directly Observed Therapy Ap-
    proach to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy
2. Succession Planning in Uganda: Early Outreach for AIDS-
    affected Children and Their Families
3. Expanding the Care Continuum for HIV/AIDS: Bringing Carers
    into Focus
4. Improving AIDS Treatment Programs


1. Acceptability of a Modified Directly Observed Therapy Ap-
proach to Improve Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy

A pilot program to introduce highly active antiretroviral ther-
apy (HAART) in public sector facilities for the management of
HIV-infected persons has been introduced in Mombasa, Kenya. To
develop a strategy to increase adherence acceptable to patients
and health workers, Horizons and the International Centre for
Reproductive Health (ICRH) conducted a qualitative study to de-
termine the acceptability of a clinic-based approach versus a
home-based approach, the potential role of family members and
support groups in fostering adherence, and clients ' willingness
to pay for drugs and monitoring tests.
Summary: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/horizons/mombasaform.pdf


2. Succession Planning in Uganda: Early Outreach for AIDS-
affected Children and Their Families

This intervention study, implemented by Plan/Uganda, Grasslands
(Tororo), and the National Community of Women Living with AIDS
(Luwero), with research carried out by the Department of Sociol-
ogy at Makerere University (Kampala) and the Horizons Program,
evaluated the effectiveness of a succession planning program in
Uganda. Unlike most other programs for AIDS-affected children,
succession planning reaches children and their families while
their HIV-positive parents are still living and in a position to
plan for their children ' s long-term well-being. The report
presents findings on the impact of the program and discusses the
program and policy implications of the research.
Report: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/horizons/orphnsfnl.pdf


3. Expanding the Care Continuum for HIV/AIDS: Bringing Carers
into Focus

A review of existing literature on the role unpaid caregivers
play in mitigating the impacts of HIV/AIDS at the household
level. This publication explores the specific issues that clus-
ter around the provision of "care" in the context of the global
HIV/AIDS pandemic. It applies the care economy lens to two key
sectors, health and social protection, and finds that while im-
portant strides are being made, much more needs to be known and
done to enable individuals, families, and households to survive
in a world shaken by AIDS.
Report: http://www.popcouncil.org/pdfs/horizons/xpndngcrcntnm.pdf


4. Improving AIDS Treatment Programs
June 2004 Horizons Report

This newsletter describes operations research in Thailand-which
has an established HAART program-and Kenya, where treatment pro-
grams are still in their infancy. Critical treatment issues-
adherence, protective behavior, monitoring and follow-up, and
more-are a focus, as well as the research approaches needed to
better understand how to solve treatment-related problems.

In this issue:
Expanding Access to AIDS Treatment
Situation analysis of Thailand's ATC Program
Introducing HAART in Africa
Kenyan study tests adaptation of TB treatment strategy
Study in Brief
"Health on the Road": Designing HIV/AIDS Programs for Truck
Drivers
Intervention study tries to provide effective prevention and
care to a mobile population

Newsletter:
http://www.popcouncil.org/horizons/newsletter/horizons(8).html


For more Horizons publications on treatment, care, and support,
please go to
http://www.popcouncil.org/horizons/pubsarea/pubstcs.html


Horizons is a global operations research initiative designed to:
1) identify and test strategies to improve HIV/AIDS prevention,
treatment, and care programs; and

2) disseminate research findings and promote their utilization
with the aim of replicating and scaling up successful interven-
tions.

Horizons is implemented by the Population Council in partnership
with the International Center for Research on Women, the Inter-
national HIV/AIDS Alliance, the Program for Appropriate Technol-
ogy in Health, Tulane University, Family Health International,
and Johns Hopkins University. Horizons is funded by the Presi-
dent ' s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the U.S. Agency
for International Development (USAID).