Bedside paediatric HIV testing in Malawi : impact on testing rates
Abstract
Background : Provider initiated testing and counselling (PITC) is recommended for all inpatients in Malawi if they have not been tested in the previous 3 months. However testing rates remain low among children. We audited the effect of implementing a bedside diagnostic HIV testing service to determine if it would improve testing rates amongst paediatric inpatients. Methods : We audited the existing HIV testing service to determine the numbers of children being tested for HIV. This was followed by the introduction of a bedside diagnostic service followed by re-audit. Bedside testing was facilitated by health systems strengthening measures including identification of suitable counsellors, appropriate supervision and remuneration. Results : In the initial audit in March-April 2014, 85 (63%) of 135 children had documented HIV tests.. Following implementation of the bedside HIV testing service, there was a significant increase in the proportion of children whose HIV status was known. On re-audit in July 2015, 110 (94.8%) of 116 children had documented HIV tests (p<0.001). Of those with documented tests, 94.5% had been tested within the last 3-months compared to 61% in 2014. Following the introduction of the service, the proportion of children tested for HIV during admission increased from 31.9% to 68.1% (p<0.001). Conclusions : Implementation of a bedside testing service at Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital significantly increased HIV testing among paediatric inpatients. This has important implications in establishing earlier treatment, reducing HIV-associated morbidity and mortality.
Citation
Macken , M , Chan , J , O'Hare , B , Thornton , H V , Dube , Q & Kennedy , N 2017 , ' Bedside paediatric HIV testing in Malawi : impact on testing rates ' , Malawi Medical Journal , vol. 29 , no. 3 , pp. 237-239 . https://doi.org/10.4314/mmj.v29i3.2
Publication
Malawi Medical Journal
Status
Peer reviewed
ISSN
1995-7262Type
Journal article
Collections
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