Guideline

Updated recommendations on service delivery for the treatment and care of people living with HIV

Year of Publication

2021

Issuing Institution

WHO

Links

WHO IRIS,WHO IRIS,Google Scholar

Recommendations

17 included recommendations

ART initiation may be offered outside the health facility

Status

Updated

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Low

People established on ART should be offered clinical visits every 3–6 months, preferably every six months if feasible

Status

Updated

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Moderate

People established on ART should be offered refills of ART lasting 3–6 months, preferably six months if feasible

Status

Updated

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

HIV programmes should implement interventions to trace people who have disengaged from care and provide support for re-engagement

Status

Updated

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Low

Sexual and reproductive health services, including contraception, may be integrated within HIV services

Status

Updated

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

Diabetes and hypertension care may be integrated with HIV services

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Conditional

Certainty of evidence

Very low

Psychosocial interventions should be provided to all adolescents and young adults living with HIV

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Moderate

Task sharing of specimen collection and point-of-care testing with nonlaboratory personnel should be implemented when professional staffing capacity is limited

Status

Updated

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

Moderate

Rapid ART initiation should be offered to all people living with HIV following a confirmed HIV diagnosis and clinical assessment

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

High

ART initiation should be offered on the same day to people who are ready to start

Status

Maintained

Recommended in favor

Strong

Certainty of evidence

High

Health systems should invest in people-centred practices and communication, including ongoing training, mentoring, supportive supervision and monitoring of health workers, to improve the relationships between patients and healthcare providers.

Status

Updated

The offer of same-day ART initiation should include approaches to improve uptake, treatment adherence and retention, such as tailored patient education, counselling and support.

Status

Updated

Assesing adherence: Viral load for treatment monitoring should be complemented with nonjudgemental, tailored approaches to assessing adherence.

Status

Updated

Disease programmes, especially those related to HIV and TB, should actively work towards balanced integration of diagnostic services.

Status

Updated

HIV programmes should: provide people-centred care that is focused and organized around the health needs, preferences and expectations of people and communities, upholding individual dignity and respect, especially for vulnerable populations, and engage and support people and families to play an active role in their own care by informed decisionmaking;

Status

Updated

HIV programmes should: offer safe, acceptable and appropriate clinical and non-clinical services in a timely fashion, aiming to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with HIV infection, and to improve health outcomes and quality of life in general;

Status

Updated

HIV programmes should: promote the efficient and effective use of resources

Status

Updated