Improving Management of Recipients of Care With HIV Viremia to Optimize Viral Suppression in Zambia: A Process and Outcome Evaluation

The Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia (CIDRZ) as an implementing partner (IP) through its Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-funded programs provides technical assistance to the Zambian Ministry of Health (MOH) to support the 95-95-95 HIV care cascade targets. Following the expansion of the DSD approach to cover non-established PLHIV, the MOH, with assistance from CIDRZ piloted the introduction of viremic clinics (VCs) as a DSD model in Lusaka to manage recipients of care (ROCs) with unsuppressed viral loads. In this paper, we describe and report on the programmatic performance and outcomes of VL testing at 6 and 12-months in PLHIV on first line ART in the VC model programme in Lusaka province as well as identify the patient and healthcare workers facilitators and barriers to improve viral suppression within the VCs.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Blood-Borne Infections Communicable Diseases Genital Diseases HIV Infections Immune System Diseases Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes Infections Lentivirus Infections RNA Virus Infections Retroviridae Infections Sexually Transmitted Diseases Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Viral Slow Virus Diseases Urogenital Diseases Virus Diseases

Age range

15 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

CIDRZ

Lusaka, 10101, Zambia

About this study

To review and understand the progress on management of viremic RoCs in PEPFAR supported HIV programs in three Districts in Lusaka province. This evaluation is essential to help facility staff to tailor client centered service delivery solutions to improve outcomes in HIV viremic clinics. Results from this evaluation will not only help the Ministry of health (MoH), CIDRZ and other implementing partners to make strategic decisions to maximize re-suppression in the high viral load cascade, but will help to improve the management of RoCs and inform national guidance and policy.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

RoCs will be included if they are aged 15 years and above ,
Started first line ART before March 2020
on ART at least 6 months of continuous ART treatment
With complete medical records in smart care, HVL registers and enrolled with HVL RoCs and active

Inclusion criteria

for IDIs:

RoCs in the qualitative evaluation clinics
Aged >15 years old
having received EAC in the past 6 months.

Inclusion criteria

for FGDs :

Health care workers involved in the care of those who are not virally suppressed (treatment supporters, EAC counselors, professional healthcare workers)

Exclusion criteria

ROCs< 15 years,

Treatment and study plan

additional support

Other

Assigned specific day for high viral load recipients of care with a team of Health care providers to provide additional support and manage patients.

Primary outcomes

Viral suppression

Time frame: 3 to 6 months

Viral Load copies < 1000 after 3 months off successful enhance adherence counselling in viremic clinic

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia

Other

Collaborators

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Registry information

Important dates

Study start: 2023
Primary completion: 2023
Study completion: 2023
First posted: Aug 5, 2026
Registry last updated: Aug 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed