By the end of September 2006, there were 102 facilities in Malawi in the public health sector delivering ART free of charge to HIV-positive eligible patients. In the third quarter of 2006 (July to September), there were 12,022 new patients started on ART. Up until the end of September 2006, there were 69,547 patients who had ever started on ART. For the quarter, 37% of patients were male and 9% were children (14 years and below). For the cumulative analysis, 39% of patients were male and 7% were children (14 years and below).
Of 69,547 patients who ever started on free ART, their outcomes by end of September 2006 were as follows: 71% were alive and on ART at the site of registration, 11% had died, 9% were lost to follow-up, 8% had transferred out to another facility (and were presumably alive) and ~1% had stopped treatment.
Of 49,487 patients alive and on ART:- 97% were on the first line regimen, 3% were on an alternative first line regimen and a small number (149) were on a second line regimen. Of those alive and on ART, 96% were ambulatory; 94% were fit to work; 6% had one or more major side effects assessed during the month of September; and 93% of patients showed 95% or more adherence to therapy based on pill counts.
A 6-month outcome analysis on 8,961 patients starting free ART from 66 sites showed: 80% were alive (72% alive and on ART + 8% transferred out).
A 12-month outcome analysis on 7,846 patients starting free ART from 60 sites showed: 74% were alive (64% alive and on ART + 10% transferred out).
An 18-month outcome analysis on 4,582 patients starting free ART from 34 sites showed: 75% were alive (62% alive and on ART + 13% transferred out).