The BSSR project was designed to strengthen social behavioural science research capacity to address evolving challenges in HIV care and prevention in Uganda. The project adopted the HIV care continuum framework. The framework models HIV care as consisting of five main stages: HIV testing and diagnosis, linkage to care, engagement/retention in care, ART initiation and adherence, and viral suppression. Engagement in all stages of HIV care is vital to the health of PLHIV. While the continuum of care framework suggests a linear and unidirectional flow through the various stages, in reality progression through the different stages is unlikely to be linear. There is evidence that shows that PLHIV engage and disengage in HIV care throughout the different stages of the continuum. The social and behavioural factors underlying the engagement and disengagement from care are complex, multiple and occur at different levels. More in the attachments below.