Browsing by Author "Simbeye, Daimon"

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    HIV Incidence by Male Circumcision Status From the Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment Surveys—Eight Sub-Saharan African Countries, 2015–2017
    (JAIDS Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes, 2021) Hines, Jonas Z.; Sachathep, Karampreet; Pals, Sherri; Davis, Stephanie M.; Toledo, Carlos; Bronson, Megan; Parekh, Bharat; Carrasco, Maria; Xaba, Sinokuthemba; Mandisarisa, John; Kamobyi, Royd; Chituwo, Omega; Kirungi, Wilford L.; Alamo, Stella; Kabuye, Geoffrey; Awor, Anna Colletar; Mmbando, Susan; Simbeye, Daimon; Aupokolo, Mekondjo A.; Zemburuka, Brigitte; Nyirenda, Rose; Msungama, Wezi; Tarumbiswa, Tapiwa; Manda, Robert; Biribonwoha, Harriet Nuwagaba; Kiggundu, Valerian; Thomas, Anne G.; Voetsch, Andrew C.; Williams, Dan B.
    Conducting HIV surveys in resource-limited settings is challenging because of logistics, limited availability of trained personnel, and complexity of testing. We described the procedures and systems deemed critical to ensure high-quality laboratory data in the population-based HIV impact assessments and large-scale household surveys.Laboratory professionals were engaged in every stage of the surveys, including protocol development, site assessments, procurement, training, quality assurance, monitoring, analysis, and reporting writing. A tiered network of household, satellite laboratories, and central laboratories, accompanied with trainings, optimized process for blood specimen collection, storage, transport, and real-time monitoring of specimen quality, and test results at each level proved critical in maintaining specimen integrity and high-quality testing. A plausibility review of aggregate merged data was conducted to confirm associations between key variables as a final quality check for quality of laboratory results.Overall, we conducted a hands-on training for 3355 survey staff across 13 surveys, with 160–387 personnel trained per survey on biomarker processes. Extensive training and monitoring demonstrated that overall, 99% of specimens had adequate volume and 99.8% had no hemolysis, indicating high quality. We implemented quality control and proficiency testing for testing, resolved discrepancies, verified >300 Pima CD4 instruments, and monitored user errors. Aggregate data review for plausibility further confirmed the high quality of testing.Ongoing engagement of laboratory personnel to oversee processes at all levels of the surveys is critical for successful national surveys. High-quality population-based HIV impact assessments laboratory data ensured reliable results and demonstrated the impact of HIV programs in 13 countries.
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    Scale-Up of Voluntary Medical Male Circumcision Services for HIV Prevention — 12 Countries in Southern and Eastern Africa, 2013–2016
    (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 2017) Hines, Jonas Z.; Malaba, Kananga; Zegeye, Tiruneh; June, Elijah Odoyo; Nyirenda, Rose Kolola; Mutandi, Gram; Yoboka, Emmanuel; Maringa, Hilda; Simbeye, Daimon; Kazaura, Kokuhumbya; Lubwama, Joseph; Kabuye, Geoffrey; Mumba, Maybin; Toledo, Carlos
    Countries in Southern and Eastern Africa have the highest prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the world; in 2015, 52% (approximately 19 million) of all persons living with HIV infection resided in these two regions.* Voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) reduces the risk for heterosexually acquired HIV infection among males by approximately 60% (1). As such, it is an essential component of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) strategy for ending acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) by 2030 (2). Substantial progress toward achieving VMMC targets has been made in the 10 years since the World Health Organization (WHO) and UNAIDS recommended scale-up of VMMC for HIV prevention in 14 Southern and Eastern African countries with generalized HIV epidemics and low male circumcision prevalence (3).† This has been enabled in part by nearly $2 billion in cumulative funding through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), administered through multiple U.S. governmental agencies, including CDC, which has supported nearly half of all PEPFAR-supported VMMCs to date. Approximately 14.5 million VMMCs were performed globally during 2008–2016, which represented 70% of the original target of 20.8 million VMMCs in males aged 15–49 years through 2016 (4). Despite falling short of the target, these VMMCs are projected to avert 500,000 HIV infections by the end of 2030 (4). However, UNAIDS has estimated an additional 27 million VMMCs need to be performed by 2021 to meet the Fast Track targets (2). This report updates a previous report covering the period 2010–2012, when VMMC implementing partners supported by CDC performed approximately 1 million VMMCs in nine countries (5). During 2013–2016, these implementing partners performed nearly 5 million VMMCs in 12 countries. Meeting the global target will require redoubling current efforts and introducing novel strategies that increase demand among subgroups of males who have historically been reluctant to undergo VMMC.