Should HIV and tuberculosis services be integrated in settings with high TB/HIV co-infection?

摘要

Integration of TB and HIV services in settings with high co-infection, has received a lot of attention yet remains a challenge. Direction from WHO came in 2001 following the first meeting of the global working group on TB/HIV; the terminology at the time was “programme interaction” and “collaboration”, which has shifted to “integration”, but what remains is lack of clarity as to exactly what integration means, how to achieve it and the benefits and challenges associated with it. Data from many settings shows very high co-infection rates: this overlapping epidemiology and the goal of providing client-centred care are at the core of the push to integrate services.