ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate the 3-year outcomes of the Medecins Sans Frontieres/Guangxi Center for Disease Control and Provention comprehensive and free of charge HIV/AIDS treatment and care project.Methods We present a detailed retrospective analysis of treatment outcomes of 432 cases who received highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)from December 2003 to December 2006.Results Among the adult patients who received HAART,the mortality rate was 6.5%and only 12(2.8%)patients were lost to follow up.The mean CD+4 T cell count increase was 147 cells/μl and 246 cells/μl for patients receiving HAART for 9-15 and 21-27 months respectively.An adherence assessment conducted during March to December 2006 indicated that 95.9%of the study cases reached an adherence of 95%or more of the prescribed medications.Among the 30 children patients who received HAART,4(13.3%)cases died and the mean CD4+T cell increase after 9-15 and 21-27 months of HAART was 673cells/μl and 658 cells/μlrespectively.148 of the adult patients starting HAART were current or ex-intravenous drug users(IDU)and showed global death rate and lost to follow-up rate comparable to those of non-IDU patients(Log rank test,P=0.91).Conclusions Good mid-term therapeutic outcomes with combination antiretroviral therapy have been achieved in this project.Total free of charge care and treatment and intensive patient support/counseling are crucial to program success.