People coinfected with HIV and Hepatitis C virus starting Hepatitis C virus treatment

Export Indicator

Proportion of people coinfected with HIV and Hepatitis C virus (HCV) starting HCV treatment
What it measures

Initiation of HCV treatment for people coinfected with HIV and HCV among people enrolled in HIV care

Rationale

The prevalence of HCV coinfection is especially high among people living with HIV in the WHO European Region because of injecting drug use. Treating people living with HIV for hepatitis C influences quality of life, life expectancy and mortality.

Numerator

Number of people diagnosed with HIV and HCV coinfection starting treatment for HCV during a specified time frame (such as 12 months)

Denominator

Number of people diagnosed with HIV and HCV coinfection enrolled in HIV care during a specified time period (such as 12 months)

Calculation

Numerator/denominator

Method of measurement

The numerator and denominator are calculated from clinical records of health-care facilities providing HIV treatment and care.

Measurement frequency

Annual

Disaggregation

People who inject drugs

Strengths and weaknesses

This indicator monitors access to hepatitis C treatment for people living with HIV coinfected with HCV. The weakness is that it reflects only one year of activity. Describing the cumulated effect of people coinfected with HIV and HCV starting treatment, requires compiling cumulative data on the people starting treatment and accounting for people newly infected with HCV and reinfected with HCV in the denominator.

Collecting information on past or current injecting drug use allows reporting of disaggregated data for PWID. Recording information on stigmatised and commonly criminalised behaviours such as illicit drug use poses a risk where an individual can be identified. Efforts must be made to ensure patient records and registers avoid disclosing information that would allow for identification of individuals engaged in stigmatised or criminalised behaviour.

Further information

Monitoring and evaluation for viral hepatitis B and C: recommended indicators and framework. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016 (http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/204790/9789241510288_eng.pdf?sequence=1).

Consolidated guidelines on HIV prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care for key populations. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2016 (https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/246200/9789241511124-eng.pdf;jsessionid=28C67621504E323967719DE7C880FF01?sequence=1).

Related Indicators

DfH.2 HCV treatment coverage, 2020, WHO Consolidated HIV strategic information guidelines: driving impact through programme monitoring and management (https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/consolidated-hiv-strategic-information-guidelines).