Outcomes

Studies to be included must have measured and reported the performance of the community-based HIV intervention of focus after it was implemented and must have reported on one or more treatment cascade stages. In this review, the cascade stages include HIV testing, HIV diagnosis, linkage to care, on ART and viral suppression. Specifically, the information will be synthesised and will single out measurement of outcomes as follows:

HIV testing: Reported increase in the number of FSWs who accessed HIV testing in a community-based HIV testing programme.

HIV diagnosis: The proportion of FSWs diagnosed with HIV among those tested.

Linked to care: The proportion of participants who got diagnosed versus the proportion of those who were linked to HIV care, defined as the completion of a first medical clinic visit after HIV diagnosis.

On ART: The proportion of participants who are taking ART, among those who tested HIV-positive.

Viral suppression: The proportion of participants living with diagnosed HIV who have attained viral suppression.