The demographic features and outcome indicators of the Barbados HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Program, 2018-2019.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the demographics, risk profiles and outcome indicators of one of the few government-supported programs on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the English-speaking Caribbean. METHODS: Chart review of all persons enrolled into the national PrEP Program from its inception on March 1st 2018 to November 30th 2019, with a descriptive summary analysis of the data extracted. RESULTS: Of the 134 persons enrolled into the program most identified as men who have sex with men (67.9%), followed by men who have sex with men and women (14.9%); there were 20 persons, mostly men (85%), in sero-discordant relationships. PrEP uptake was 96%; however, the continuation rate (continuing for three consecutive months after initiation) was 61.5%. Continuation status for many could not be ascertained due to loss-to-follow-up. PrEP-associated toxicity prevalence was 2.3%, although side-effects occurred in 52% (mostly gastrointestinal). HIV positivity during the study period was 1.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Uptake of Barbados' national PrEP Program is excellent but fairly low continuation rates and the HIV positivity rate indicate the need for improved pre-ART initiation education and follow-up processes. Service utilisation is mainly by men who have sex with men, and provision expansion to other civil society partners and private practitioners, as well as increased public awareness could increase access by other high-risk groups.

The demographic features and outcome indicators of the Barbados HIV Pre-exposure Prophylaxis Program, 2018-2019 / Características demográficas e indicadores de resultados del Programa de profilaxis previa a la exposición del VIH en Barbados, 2018-2019 / Características demográficas e indicadores de resultados do Programa de Profilaxia Pré-exposição ao HIV de Barbados, 2018-2019

ABSTRACT Objective. To assess the demographics, risk profiles and outcome indicators of one of the few government-supported programs on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the English-speaking Caribbean. Methods. Chart review of all persons enrolled into the national PrEP Program from its inception on March 1st 2018 to November 30th 2019, with a descriptive summary analysis of the data extracted. Results. Of the 134 persons enrolled into the program most identified as men who have sex with men (67.9%), followed by men who have sex with men and women (14.9%); there were 20 persons, mostly men (85%), in sero-discordant relationships. PrEP uptake was 96%; however, the continuation rate (continuing for three consecutive months after initiation) was 61.5%. Continuation status for many could not be ascertained due to loss-to-follow-up. PrEP-associated toxicity prevalence was 2.3%, although side-effects occurred in 52% (mostly gastrointestinal). HIV positivity during the study period was 1.5%. Conclusions. Uptake of Barbados' national PrEP Program is excellent but fairly low continuation rates and the HIV positivity rate indicate the need for improved pre-ART initiation education and follow-up processes. Service utilisation is mainly by men who have sex with men, and provision expansion to other civil society partners and private practitioners, as well as increased public awareness could increase access by other high-risk groups.

RESUMEN Objetivos. Evaluar la información demográfica, los perfiles de riesgo y los indicadores de resultados de uno de los pocos programas de profilaxis previa a la exposición (PrEP, por su sigla en inglés) respaldado por un gobierno en el Caribe de habla inglesa. Métodos. Análisis de gráficos de todas las personas que se registraron en el Programa Nacional de PrEP desde su inicio el 1 de marzo de 2018 hasta el 30 de noviembre 2019, con un análisis de los datos extraídos en forma de resumen descriptivo. Resultados. De las 134 personas que se registraron en el programa, la mayoría se identificaba como hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres (67,9%), seguido de hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con otros hombres y con mujeres (14,9%). Había 20 personas, principalmente hombres (85%), en relaciones serodiscordantes. La tasa de captación del programa de PrEP fue de 96%; sin embargo, la tasa de continuación (continuar en el programa durante tres meses consecutivos después del inicio) fue de 61,5%. En muchos casos no se pudo verificar la continuación debido a la falta de seguimiento. La prevalencia de la toxicidad asociada con la PrEP fue de 2,3%, aunque se observaron efectos colaterales en un 52% (principalmente en el aparato digestivo) de las personas. La positividad para el VIH durante el período del estudio fue de 1,5%. Conclusiones. El Programa Nacional de PrEP de Barbados tiene una tasa de captación excelente; sin embargo, la tasa de continuación relativamente baja y la tasa de positividad para el VIH indican la necesidad de mejorar la educación inicial previa al tratamiento antirretroviral y los procesos de seguimiento. Estos servicios fueron utilizados principalmente por hombres que tienen relaciones sexuales con hombres; si se ampliase el suministro de estos a otros colaboradores de la sociedad civil y médicos particulares, y si se concientizase más al público, se mejoraría el acceso para otros grupos de alto riesgo.

RESUMO Objetivos. Avaliar as características demográficas, perfis de risco e indicadores de resultados de um dos poucos programas de profilaxia pré-exposição (PrEP) com apoio governamental existentes em países de língua inglesa do Caribe. Métodos. Revisão dos prontuários de todos os participantes inscritos no Programa Nacional de PrEP desde o seu início em 1. de março de 2018 a 30 de novembro de 2019, com uma análise sumária descritiva dos dados extraídos. Resultados. Dos 134 participantes inscritos no programa, a maioria se identificou como homens que fazem sexo com homens (67,9%), seguido de homens que fazem sexo com homens e mulheres (14,9%). Vinte participantes, sobretudo homens (85%), estavam em relacionamentos sorodiscordantes. O índice de captação de participantes ao PrEP foi de 96%, porém a taxa de continuidade no programa (continuar participando por três meses consecutivos após ter iniciado o programa) foi de 61,5%. Não foi possível confirmar a continuidade no programa em muitos casos por perda de seguimento. A prevalência de toxicidade associada à PrEP foi 2,3%, apesar de terem ocorrido efeitos colaterais em 52% dos participantes (na sua maioria efeitos gastrointestinais). A taxa de positividade ao HIV durante o período de estudo foi de 1,5%. Conclusões. A captação do Programa Nacional de PrEP de Barbados foi excelente, mas a continuidade da participação relativamente baixa e a taxa de positividade ao HIV observada indicam que é necessário instruir melhor as pessoas antes de iniciar a terapia antirretroviral e aprimorar o processo de acompanhamento. Este programa é utilizado principalmente por homens que fazem sexo com homens. Ampliar a prestação do serviço a outros parceiros da sociedade civil e a profissionais particulares, assim como melhorar a conscientização do público, poderia aumentar o acesso por outros grupos de alto risco.

HIV Viral Load Trends in Six Eastern Caribbean Countries Utilizing a Regional Laboratory Referral Service: Implications for Treatment as Prevention.

OBJECTIVE: Since 2009, seven countries in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Antigua & Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines, have been utilizing a laboratory referral service for HIV-1 viral load (VL) offered by The Ladymeade Reference Unit (LRU) Laboratory, Barbados. The objective of this study was to evaluate 5 year VL trends in the six larger OECS countries participating in this regional referral service. METHODS: Blood samples were collected in source countries and transported to Barbados as frozen plasma according to a standardized protocol. Plasma specimens were amplified by RT PCR on a Roche TaqMan 48 analyser (Roche Diagnostics, Panama City, Panama). VL was considered optimally suppressed below a threshold level of < 200 HIV-1 copies/mL of blood. The same threshold was used as a binary indicator in an analysis of the secular change in VL suppression. Montserrat was excluded due to insufficient number of samples. RESULTS: A steady rise in VL referrals from OECS countries was recorded, rising from 312 samples in 2009 to 1,060 samples in 2013. A total of 3,543 samples were tested, with a sample rejection rate (9.2%) mostly due to breaks in the cold chain. Aggregate VL data showed the odds of VL suppression in the Eastern Caribbean improved by 66% for each additional year after 2009 (Odds Ratio 1.66 [95% CI 1.46 to 1.88]; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: We demonstrate the feasibility of establishing a regional laboratory referral service for HIV VL monitoring in the Eastern Caribbean. Aggregate VL trends showed a significant year-on-year improvement in VL suppression, implying public health benefits through treatment as prevention in the OECS. VL provides a powerful monitoring & evaluation tool for strengthening HIV programs at country level among the small island states participating in this regional referral network.

Ten year trends in community HIV viral load in Barbados: implications for treatment as prevention.

BACKGROUND: Treatment as prevention is a paradigm in HIV medicine which describes the public health benefit of antiretroviral therapy (ART). It is based on research showing substantial reductions in the risk of HIV transmission in persons with optimally suppressed HIV-1 Viral Loads (VL). The present study describes ten year VL trends at the national HIV treatment unit and estimates VL suppression at a population level in Barbados, a Caribbean island with a population of 277,000, an estimated adult HIV prevalence of 1.2%, and served by a single treatment unit. METHODS: The national HIV treatment centre of the Barbados Ministry of Health has a client VL database extending back to inception of the clinic in 2002 (n = 1,462 clients, n = 17,067 VL measurements). Optimal VL suppression was defined at a threshold value of ≤200 viral copies/mL. RESULTS: Analysis of VL trends showed a statistically significant improvement in VL suppression between 2002 to 2011, from 33.6% of clients achieving the 200 copies/mL threshold in 2002 to 70.3% in 2011 (P<0.001). Taking into account the proportion of clients alive and in care and on ART, the known diagnosed HIV population in Barbados, and estimates of unknown HIV infections, this translates into an estimated 26.2% VL suppression at a population level at the end of 2010. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated a significant trend towards optimal VL suppression in clients utilizing the services of the national HIV treatment program in Barbados over a 10-year period. Estimates of VL suppression at a population level are similar to reports in developed countries that applied similar methodologies and this could suggest a public health benefit of ART in minimizing the risk of sexual transmission of HIV. Continued efforts are warranted to extend HIV testing to hidden populations in Barbados and linking infected persons to care earlier in their disease.

Strengthening national laboratory health systems in the Caribbean Region.

The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programme for the Caribbean Region was established in 2008 to address health system challenges, including fragile laboratory services and systems. The laboratory component of this programme consisted of several phases: assessment of laboratory needs of all 12 countries engaged in the programme; addressing gaps identified during the assessment; and monitoring and evaluation of the progress achieved. After one year of PEPFAR collaboration with national governments and other partners, laboratory services and systems greatly improved. Some of the milestones include: (1) the accreditation of a public laboratory; (2) improved access to HIV diagnosis with faster turnaround time; (3) establishment of capacity for platforms for DNA PCR, viral load and HIV drug resistance; (4) development of the laboratory workforce; and (5) establishment of a framework for implementation of sustainable quality management systems for laboratory accreditation. The progress recorded in strengthening laboratory health systems after one year of initiating this collaboration shows that with a rigorous initial assessment, programme design and intervention and strategic partnership, national laboratory health systems can be greatly enhanced to support programme implementation. Continued collaboration and country leadership is critical to create an integrated and sustainable laboratory network in the Caribbean.