Table 1. Characteristics according to randomization arm.* .
| Characteristic | Subcharacteristic | PHW Arm (A) | Control Arm (B) |
| No clusters | 10 | 5 | |
| No subjects total | 970 | 366 | |
| No subjects per cluster, mean (range) | 97 (47–163) | 73 (33–116) | |
| Female, n (%) | 638 (65.8) | 247 (67.5) | |
| Age, median (range), years | 35.5 (15–76) | 34.0 (17–70) | |
| Age group, n (%) | |||
| ≤29 | 244 (25.2) | 102 (27.9) | |
| 30–39 | 435 (44.9) | 163 (44.5) | |
| ≥40 | 291 (30.0) | 101 (27.6) | |
| CD4 cell count at ART initiation, median (IQR), cells/µl | 160 (77–217) | 161 (78–216) | |
| CD4 groups at ART initiation, n (%), cells/µl | |||
| <100 | 292 (30.1) | 101 (27.7) | |
| 100–250 | 646 (66.6) | 255 (69.9) | |
| >250 | 32 (3.3) | 9 (2.5) | |
| Plasma HIV-1 RNA at ART initiation, geometric mean, copies/mL | 44440 | 36047 | |
| Plasma HIV-1 RNA at ART initiation, mean (SD), log10 copies/mL | 4.65 (0.93) | 4.56 (0.87) | |
| Baseline viral load >100,000 copies/mL, n (%) | 421 (56.1) | 167 (61.4) | |
| Baseline WHO Stage, n (%) | |||
| 1 | 287 (29.6) | 106 (29.0) | |
| 2 | 349 (36.0) | 140 (38.3) | |
| 3 | 224 (23.1) | 89 (24.3) | |
| 4 | 109 (11.3) | 31 (8.5) | |
| Baseline ARV Regimen, n (%) | |||
| Combivir/Efavirenz | 276 (28.5) | 93 (25.5) | |
| Combivir/Nevirapine | 353 (36.4) | 156 (42.7) | |
| Stavudine/Lamivudine/Efavirenz | 95 (9.8) | 38 (10.4) | |
| Stavudine/Lamivudine/Nevirapine | 239 (24.6) | 74 (20.3) | |
| Other | 7 (0.7) | 4 (1.1) | |
| Clinic distance to central clinic, mean (range), km | 23.1 (7.7–40.5) | 35.5 (8.6–54.5) | |
| Subjects on ART prior to start of trial, n (%) | 330 (34) | 114 (31) | |
| Subject pre-trial subject duration on ART, median (range), weeks | 43.6 (1.0–89.4) | 41.4 (0.6–89.6) | |
| Pre-trial 24 week virologic failures, n/N (%) | 85/191 (44.5%) | 23/65 (35.4%) | |
| Pre-trial 48 week virologic failures, n/N (%) | 36/128 (28.1%) | 12/46 (33.3%) |
*PHW, Peer Health Worker; IQR, Interquartile Range; SD, Standard Deviation.