Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 29, 2026
Comprehensive & Cost Effective Laboratory Monitoring of HIV/AIDS: an African Role Model
Published on: October 31, 2010
A profile of an HIV-and child-specific programme in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
1Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, Department of Epidemiology, Children's Hospital, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
Insights
Ancillary services significantly improve medical care access and retention for HIV-infected children. These services are crucial for underserved populations, aiding in treatment adherence and reducing emergency room visits.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Millions of children globally are infected with HIV, with significant new infections annually.
- Ancillary services can remove barriers, improving access and retention in primary care for HIV-infected children.
- These services are particularly vital in resource-limited settings and for underserved populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the characteristics and utilization of an HIV-specific ancillary service program for children.
- To assess the impact of ancillary services on care retention and treatment adherence in HIV-infected children.
Main Methods:
- Non-concurrent cohort study design.
- Inclusion of 42 HIV-infected children (newborn to 13 years) in New Orleans.
- Analysis of service utilization patterns and association with clinical outcomes.
Main Results:
- The study population was predominantly young (50% aged 1-5), African-American (88.1%), and perinatally infected (97.6%).
- Ancillary service utilization decreased with age but increased with disease severity.
- Receipt of ancillary services correlated with improved patient retention, antiretroviral treatment prescription, and reduced HIV-related emergency room use.
Conclusions:
- HIV-specific ancillary services effectively support HIV-infected children's medical care.
- These programs are valuable adjuncts to primary care, especially for complex cases in underserved communities.
- Ancillary services enhance care delivery and improve health outcomes for pediatric HIV patients.
Abstract:
Since the beginning of the AIDS epidemic, 4.3 million children under 15 years of age have been infected with HIV worldwide; in the year 2000 alone, the World Health Organization estimates that 600,000 children became HIV-infected. Ancillary services offer the potential to improve access to and retention in primary care through removal of barriers to care. Globally, ancillary services may actually represent a significant proportion of all care delivered to HIV-infected children, particularly in the absence of expensive antiretroviral treatments. The purpose of this non-concurrent cohort study was to describe a population of HIV-infected children receiving ancillary services from an HIV- and family-specific ancillary service programme in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. Forty-two HIV-infected children ages newborn to 13 years were included in the study. The majority were between one and five years of age (50.0%), male (54.8%), African-American (88.1%), and perinatally infected (97.6%). Services were well utilized; delivery decreased with age and increased with severity of clinical disease. Improved retention, prescription of antiretroviral treatment and HIV-related emergency room utilization were associated with ancillary service receipt. Ancillary services delivered by an HIV- and family-specific programme assist HIV-infected children to receive improved medical care. Ancillary services are a valuable adjunct to primary care, particularly in the complex care of the HIV-infected children from historically underserved populations.
