Start TB Patients on ART and Retain on Treatment (START Study)

CIP will contain programmatic, structural and psychosocial components including: 1) nurse training and mentorship in TB/HIV cotreatment using a clinical algorithm; 2) reimbursement of transportation costs to monthly clinic visits for patients and treatment supporters; 3) health education using a TB and HIV treatment literacy curriculum for patients and treatment supporters; and 4) real-time adherence support using short message service (SMS) text messaging and trained village health workers (VHW). These components were selected for their promise, practicality, and feasibility of implementation and scale-up in HIV programs in diverse settings - in addition to SOC.

Usual procedures for management of HIV-infected TB patients will be followed: Three I's training, ART provision to TB patients in integrated clinics, and treatment supporter for TB treatment.