Studying the continuity of care of People living with HIV in Belgium to contribute to better individual outcomes and impact on the HIV epidemic
(2026)
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- Abstract
- A growing number of people are living with HIV. Continuity of care is essential to ensure their optimal health and prevent transmission. This thesis studied the continuity of HIV care in Belgium using national surveillance data. The first study estimated an incidence of care interruption of 5.3 per 100 person-years (2007–16), affecting 25.8% of individuals in care, with 77.5% returning, highlighting the cyclical nature of the care continuum. The second study showed that testing and diagnoses decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, with a likely slowdown in transmission. The third study (2014–22), combining cross-sectional and longitudinal approaches, identified diagnosis as the weakest stage in the care continuum. The priority is to strengthen testing strategies for early HIV diagnosis while supporting care engagement, particularly among vulnerable populations, such as people who inject drugs and migrants.
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Citations
Van Beckhoven, D. (2026). Studying the continuity of care of People living with HIV in Belgium to contribute to better individual outcomes and impact on the HIV epidemic. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/273440