Table 2 Overview of reported findings per study on association between equity criteria and ART initiation or adherence

Cleary 2011[25]

***

Not associated, men = women

SES: not associated, SES distribution HIV + in need = ART clinic patients

Inconclusive results population size too small to draw conclusions

Cooke 2010[32]

***

Not associated

men = women

Associated, younger (15–19 yrs), < older (>19 yrs)

Not associated, peri-urban = urban = rural

SES: not associated, index profile 1 = 2 = 3 = 4 = 5 (SES), education: not associated, years of education as continuous variable

Govindasamy 2011[26]

***

Not associated, men = women

Not associated, ≤ 30 yrs = ≥ 30 yrs

Contradicting results, CD4 cell count: associated, CD4 > 350 < ≤350, WHO stages: not associated

Education: not associated, primary school completed = not completed, employment: not associated, employed < unemployed

Tsai 2009[33]

**

Not associated, men = women

Associated, younger (18–30 yrs) < older (30–35 yrs)

Education: associated, lower education (secondary) < higher education (matric/ tertiary), employment: associated, non salaried employment < salaried employment, unemployed < employed

Associated never married < married or cohabiting

Adam 2009[34]

**

Associated⁴, unequal ART coverage between 9 provinces

Muula 2007[24]

*

Associated⁴, male < female

Nattrass 2006[23]

Associated⁴, unequal ART coverage between 9 provinces

Boyles 2011[30]

***

Not associated, men = women

Associated, younger (<25 yrs) < older, (25–50 yrs)

Associated, CD4 ≥ 200 < <200

Orrell 2003[31]

***

Not associated, men = women

Associated, younger < older, adherence group is older (34 yrs) than non-adhererce group (31 yrs)

Contradicting results, CD4 cell count: associated, patients that not adhere had lower CD4 level, Viral load: associated, patients that not adhere had higher VL, WHO stage: not associated

SES: not associated, % low SES in patient group that continued, ART = that not continued

Kranzer 2010[27]

***

Associated, men < women

Not associated, ≤ 30 yrs = > 30 yrs

Contradicting results, CD4 cell count: associated, > 200 < ≤100, WHO stage: not associated

Fatti 2010[29]

***

Not associated, men = women

Not associated, younger children (≤2 yrs) = older children (>2 yrs)

Contradicting results, CD4 cell count (severe immunodeficiency¹): associated, patients with severe immunodeficiency were less adherent, WHO stage (severe clinical status²): not associated

Associated, rural/urban < urban/urban < rural/ rural³

Cornell 2009[28]

**

Not associated, men = women

Not associated, age as continuous variable

Contradicting results, CD4 cell count: associated, CD4 < 50 < 50–150, but CD4 < 50 = >150, WHO stage: not associated, Viral load: not associated

Employment: associated, no income < income