Antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage at public and private ART facilities in Myanmar

ABSTRACT

Myanmar's continuum of HIV care was surveyed to assess the National AIDS Control Programme's progress; according to its reports, ART coverage was 38% in 2014, 47% in 2015, and 56% in 2016. To evaluate ART coverage and gaps in care, a serial cross-sectional study used the national programme data reported between January 2014 and December 2016, including 228 public and 62 private ART facilities. ART coverage among PLHIV under 15 years old was 89% in 2014, 93% in 2015, and 88% in 2016. Retention in ART care among women was higher than among men, although women were more likely to discontinue care. PLHIV who were enrolled in ART facilities initiated ART at the rates of 60% in 2014, 68% in 2015, and 74% in 2016. Over the 3-year study period, these facilities reported that 2.5–3.7% of PLHIV taking ART had died, and that 3.3–4.8% were lost to follow-up. PLHIV who were tested for viral load were low (2.5–3%). The continuum of HIV care at ART facilities has improved, but more information about attrition and viral suppression are still needed. The reporting system for newly diagnosed PLHIV and facilities for viral load testing need to be strengthened.

KEYWORDS:

• Antiretroviral therapy (ART)
• ART coverage
• Myanmar
• continuum of HIV care
• nationwide aggregate data

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by NIH/Fogarty International Center D43TW009600, UCLA/Myanmar Training Program in Advanced HIV/AIDS Methodologies. The authors thank the responsible officials in the Ministry of Health and Sports, National AIDS programme, the HIV units of the WHO country office, and the Department of Medical Research (Myanmar).

Disclosure statement

In accordance with Taylor & Francis policy and our ethical obligations as researchers. No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the NIH Fogarty International Center: [grant number D43TW009600].