HORIZONS PROJECT
Scaling Up Affordable and Appropriate Care and Support Services for People Living with HIV/AIDS in South India

Between January 2000 and January 2002, researchers interviewed clients of Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education (YRG CARE), examined the organization's services, and documented the process of scaling up key care and support services at four selected sites in South India.

Key findings:

• Perceived quality of life of YRG CARE clients improved over time, even without antiretroviral treatment.
• The costs of HIV and AIDS impose a high financial burden at the household level that decreased over the study period.
• Systematic economic analysis of an NGO provides important information that can be used to increase efficiency and reduce costs.
• Building skills in the provision of care and support works best when careful attention is paid to provider needs and when the capacity-building program is flexible.
• Increased availability of care was associated with higher demand for prevention and care services.
• Much can be accomplished through locally led capacity building.

Future efforts are likely to explore strategies for further improving the quality of service provision and for expanding access and adherence to antiretroviral therapy.

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Location

South India

Duration

September 1999–March 2004

Horizons and Population Council researchers

Chris Castle

(For more information about this study, please contact horizons@popcouncil.org.) 

Non-Council collaborators

Celine Costello-Daly

Rick Homan, Caroline West (Family Health International)

Benjamin Franklin, A.K. Ganesh, N. Kumarasamy Purnima Madhivanan, S. Sri Priya, Sathiyavan, Suniti Solomon, S. Swarnalakshmi, Shirley Thomas, Gladston Xavier (Y.R. Gaitonde Centre for AIDS Research and Education)

P. Duraisamy (University of Madras)

Asha Kirana

International HIV/AIDS Alliance

Medical & Allied, Inc.

National Council of Applied Economic Research 

St. Joseph of Cluny Hospital

Shanthi Bhavan

Society for Development Research and Training (SFDRT)

Solomon Health and Development of the Weaker Societies (SHADOWS)

Tulane University

Donors

The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation

US Agency for International Development

Publications/Resources on this project

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See Also

• India

• Horizons Program

• HIV and AIDS

• HIV and AIDS/Policy Development

• HIV and AIDS/Prevention

• HIV and AIDS/Stigma and Discrimination

• HIV and AIDS/Treatment, Care, and Support

• Quality of Care

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