Enrollment and retention of HIV discordant couples in Lusaka, Zambia
Kempf, M.-C.; Allen, S.; Zulu, I.; Kancheya, N.; Stephenson, R.; Brill, I.; Tichacek, A.; Haworth, A.; Chomba, E.
Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 47(1): 116-125
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 1525-4135 PMID: 18030162 DOI: 10.1097/qai.0b013e31815d2f3fDocument Number: 197820
Biased enrollment and attrition compromise the power of clinical trials and limit generalizability of findings. We identify predictors of enrollment and retention for HIV-discordant couples enrolled in prospective studies in Zambia. A total of 1995 discordant couples were invited to enroll. Predictors of nonenrollment, loss to follow-up, and missed appointments were evaluated using multivariate models. MF couples were more likely to be eligible and to enroll and less likely to be lost to follow-up than FM couples. Substantial losses to follow-up occurred between testing and enrollment (21.3% of MF and 28.1% of FM) and between enrollment and the first follow-up visit (24.9% of MF and 30.5% of FM). Among MF and FM couples, residence far from the clinic, younger age, and women's age at first intercourse