Importance of HIV Care Continuum

Abstract

This chapter seeks to create further awareness and public health education on the importance of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) care continuum as one of the key policy focal areas to significantly reduce the HIV epidemic. Specific efforts were directed into the need to implement comprehensive HIV care continuum. The chapter argues that rolling out HIV counseling and testing, enrolled and linked patients to care, prescribing antiretroviral therapy, viral load testing and monitoring are key to achieve viral load suppression. Recommendations and future research direction have put much emphasis on an effort to address psychosocial factors such as stigma, inadequate healthcare facilities, laboratory testing equipment, social and cultural barriers to testing and treatment, to improve access and overall implementation of HIV care continuum.