Early Access to ART for All in Swaziland: Effects on Economic Outcomes

MaxART: The Effect of Early Access to ART for All in Swaziland on Economic Outcomes

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of offering early antiretroviral therapy to HIV-positive individuals in government-managed health facilities in Swaziland on a range of economic outcomes

The MaxART study is a three-year stepped-wedge randomized trial with open enrollment for all adults 18 years and older across 14 rural health facilities in Swaziland's Hhohho Region. The main trial registration is accessible at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/record/NCT02909218.

This registration is specific to the economic evaluation of the MaxART study which aims to quantify the causal impacts of early ART initiation (compared to national standard care) on a range of key economic outcomes, including healthcare expenditures, productivity, and household wealth.

Inclusion Criteria:

• All HIV-positive individuals who are aged 18 years or older, are ART naïve and attend the health facilities included in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

• All HIV-positive individuals who are <18 years of age
• All HIV-positive pregnant or breastfeeding women
• All HIV-positive individuals who did not consent to participate