What does the report say about the effectiveness of ARV therapy in low- and middle- income countries?
A. The report finds that improvements in patient health and rates of patient adherence to ARV therapy are comparable between low-, middle- and high-income countries. However, the report also finds that some benefit of ARV therapy is lost in low- and middle-income countries due to late diagnosis of people with HIV and, therefore, late initiation of therapy with consequent high mortality. Improving timely diagnosis of HIV infection and efforts to begin ARV therapy in a timely manner are key. Increased attention is also required to ensure consistent and long term follow-up. Moreover, many patients living in low- and middle income countries continue to face difficulties adhering to long-term treatment owing to both structural factors (such as user fees, distance to health facilities, stigma) as well as individual factors (treatment side-effects and co-morbidities).
