Comparison 1. Doctor versus nurse or clinical officer (initiation and Maintenance of ART)  .

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Death (12 months)	3		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
1.1 Initiation and maintenance of ART (RCTs)	1	2770	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.96 [0.82, 1.12]
1.2 Initiation and maintenance of ART (Cohort)	2	39160	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	1.23 [1.14, 1.33]
2 Lost to follow‐up (12 months)	3		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
2.1 Initiation and maintenance of ART (RCTs)	1	2770	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.73 [0.55, 0.97]
2.2 Initiation and maintenance of ART (Cohorts)	2	39156	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.30 [0.05, 1.94]
3 Death or lost to follow‐up (12months)	3		Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	Subtotals only
3.1 Initiation and Maintenance of ART (RCT)	1	2770	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.89 [0.79, 1.01]
3.2 Initiation and Maintenance of ART (Cohorts)	2	39160	Risk Ratio (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.72 [0.48, 1.07]
4 Cost of travel			Other data	No numeric data
4.1 cost of travel			Other data	No numeric data