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Article History

Received: 20 October 2017

Accepted: 21 June 2018

First Online: 3 July 2018

Authors’ information

: TW: MD, MSc; Senior Public Health Specialist at CDC Ethiopia. He has expertise in HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support. IA: MPH; Public Health Specialist at CDC Ethiopia. He has expertise in HIV/AIDS treatment, care and support. AM: MD, MPH; Research Coordinator at EPHA. SB: BSc, MPH: Research Coordinator at EPHA. He is a registered and licensed chief expert Public Health Professional. AB: MPH, PhD; Projects and Grants Management Department Director at EPHA. MK: MA, PhD; Asst Prof. of Public Health at the School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University.

: The study protocol was reviewed by EPHA and U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and granted ethical clearance by both institutions. The commencement of the study was facilitated by official letter written by the FMoH and EPHA to the regional health authorities and health facilities. Data were collected from medical records of patients with no personal identifiers; and therefore no consent was sought from individuals. Medical records were accessed with permission from the heads of the respective health authorities at regional and health facility level. Only data collectors and supervisors accessed medical records and data collection took place in a secure place within the facility to avoid a breach of confidentiality. Care was taken not to disrupt routine clinic activities during data collection.

: Not applicable.

: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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