Unappreciated epidemiology: the churn effect in a regional HIV care programme

Int J STD AIDS. 2009 Aug;20(8):540-4. doi: 10.1258/ijsa.2008.008422.

Abstract

High levels of geographic mobility in and out of HIV care centres (i.e. the churn effect) can disrupt the continuity of patient care, misalign prevention services, impact local prevalence data perturbing optimal allocation of resources, and contribute to logical challenges in repeated transfer of health records. We report on the clinical, demographic, and administrative impact of high population turnover within HIV populations.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • CD4 Lymphocyte Count
  • Canada / epidemiology
  • Emigration and Immigration
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Population Dynamics