Treatment as Prevention: Frequently Asked Questions

This FAQ was developed with input from the National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV (NEPHAK) and Health GAP on the basis of national PLHIV dialogues on treatment as prevention conducted throughout Kenya. The questions and answers contain information relevant for a global audience—but have been written specifically for individuals living and working in low and middle income countries.

Questions include:

• What is new about treatment as prevention?
• When should PLHIV start treatment?
• What does treatment as prevention mean about the best time to start HIV treatment?
• Should everyone with HIV start ARVs right away—even before they feel sick or the CD4 cell count drops?
• If you start ARVs and want to use them as treatment as prevention, do you have to stay on them for life?
• Many countries don’t have viral load tests in public facilities. How can an individual tell if treatment as prevention is working—especially if he or she is feeling healthy anyway?
• There are treatment shortages in many countries. Why should PLHIV push for expanding access for treatment as prevention?

Source: National Empowerment Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Kenya

Date of Publication: March 25, 2019