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Background HIV-1 incidence calculation currently includes recency classification by HIV-1 incidence assay and unsuppressed viral load (VL ≥ 1000 copies/mL) in a recent infection testing algorithm (RITA). However, persons with recent classification not virally suppressed and taking antiretroviral (ARV) medication may be misclassified. Setting We used data from 13 African household surveys to describe the impact of an ARV-adjusted RITA on HIV-1 incidence estimates. Methods HIV-seropositive samples were tested for recency using the HIV-1 Limiting Antigen (LAg)-Avidity enzyme immunoassay, HIV-1 viral load, ARVs used in each country, and ARV drug resistance. LAg-recent result was defined as normalized optical density values ≤1.5. We compared HIV-1 incidence estimates using 2 RITA: RITA1: LAg-recent + VL ≥ 1000 copies/mL and RITA2: RITA1 + undetectable ARV. We explored RITA2 with self-reported ARV use and with clinical history. Results Overall, 357 adult HIV-positive participants were classified as having recent infection with RITA1. RITA2 reclassified 55 (15.4%) persons with detectable ARV as having long-term infection. Those with detectable ARV were significantly more likely to be aware of their HIV-positive status (84% vs. 10%) and had higher levels of drug resistance (74% vs. 26%) than those without detectable ARV. RITA2 incidence was lower than RITA1 incidence (range, 0%-30% decrease), resulting in decreased estimated new infections from 390,000 to 341,000 across the 13 countries. Incidence estimates were similar using detectable or self-reported ARV (R2 > 0.995). Conclusions Including ARV in RITA2 improved the accuracy of HIV-1 incidence estimates by removing participants with likely long-term HIV infection.

Hazardous alcohol use (HAU), defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption that increases the risk of harmful consequences for the user or others, is associated with an elevated risk of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and poor health outcomes. We describe the association between people living with HIV (PLHIV) who report HAU and key HIV indicators. Gaps in current literature in estimating HAU on HIV outcomes at the regional level of Eastern and Southern Africa still exist and our analysis aims to address this issue.We used weighted pooled data (2015-2017) from the nationally representative Population-based HIV Impact Assessments among adults who provided written consent aged 18-59 years from Eswatini, Malawi, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe. We estimated differences in the prevalence of HIV infection and The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) 90-90-90 indicators between PLHIV by HAU status using log-binomial regression, stratified by sex. HAU was determined using the Alcohol Use Identification Test-Consumption.Among the 9755 women and 4444 men who tested HIV positive, 6.6% of women and 21.8% of men engaged in HAU. Women who reported HAU were more likely to be HIV positive (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.18-1.46) compared to those who did not report HAU. For the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets, women who engaged in HAU were more likely to be unaware of their HIV-positive status (aPR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.01-1.47) and not on antiretroviral therapy (ART) (aPR = 1.73, 95% CI: 1.26-2.37). Men who engaged in HAU were more likely to be unaware of their HIV-positive status (aPR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.39-1.76) and not on ART (aPR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.30-2.29). No difference in viral load suppression, defined as1000 copies/ml of HIV RNA, was seen by sex.PLHIV who engage in HAU were more likely to have suboptimal outcomes along the HIV care continuum when compared to those who did not engage in HAU. Targeted interventions, such as alcohol screening for HAU in HIV testing and treatment settings and HIV prevention efforts in alcohol-based venues, may help countries reach HIV epidemic control by 2030.

Background In the 21st century, understanding how population migration impacts human health is critical. Namibia has high migration rates and HIV prevalence, but little is known about how these intersect. We examined the association between migration and HIV-related outcomes using data from the 2017 Namibia Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (NAMPHIA). Methods and findings The NAMPHIA survey selected a nationally representative sample of adults in 2017. All adults aged 15–64 years were invited to complete an interview and home-based HIV test. Recent infection (1000 copies/mL) and antiretroviral analyte data. Awareness of HIV status and antiretroviral use were based on self-report and/or detectable antiretrovirals in blood. Viremia was defined as having a viral load ≥1000 copies/mL, including all participants in the denominator regardless of serostatus. We generated community viremia values as a weighted proportion at the EA level, excluding those classified as recently infected. Significant migrants were those who had lived outside their current region or away from home >one month in the past three years. Recent cross-community in-migrants were those who had moved to the community two years ago to determine the association of migration and timing with recent infection or viral load suppression (VLS). All proportions are weighted. Of eligible adults, we had HIV results and migration data on 9,625 (83.9%) of 11,474 women and 7,291 (73.0%) of 9,990 men. Most respondents (62.5%) reported significant migration. Of cross-community in-migrants, 15.3% were recent. HIV prevalence was 12.6% and did not differ by migration status. Population VLS was 77.4%. Recent cross-community in-migration was associated with recent HIV infection (aOR: 4.01, 95% CI 0.99–16.22) after adjusting for community viremia. Significant migration (aOR 0.73, 95% CI: 0.55–0.97) and recent cross-community in-migration (aOR 0.57, 95% CI: 0.35–0.92) were associated with lower VLS, primarily due to lack of awareness of HIV infection. The study was limited by lack of precise data on trajectory of migration. Conclusions Despite a high population-level VLS, Namibia still has migrant populations that are not accessing effective treatment for HIV. Targeting migrants with effective prevention and testing programs in communities with viremia could enable further epidemic control.

OBJECTIVE: The Lesotho Population-based HIV Impact Assessment survey was conducted nationally and designed to measure HIV prevalence, incidence, and viral load suppression (VLS). DESIGN: A nationally representative sample of 9403 eligible households was surveyed between November 2016 and May 2017; analyses account for study design. Consenting participants provided blood samples, socio-demographic, and behavioral information. METHODS: Blood samples were tested using the national rapid HIV testing algorithm. HIV-seropositive results were confirmed with Geenius supplemental assay. Screening for detectable concentrations of antiretroviral analytes was conducted on dried blood specimens from all HIV-positive adults using high-resolution liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry. Self-reported and/or antiretroviral biomarker data were used to classify individuals as HIV-positive and on treatment. Viral load testing was performed on all HIV-positive samples at central labs. VLS was defined as HIV RNA below 1000 copies/ml. RESULTS: Overall, 25.6% of adults aged 15–59 years were HIV-positive. Among seropositive adults, 81.0% (male 76.6%, female 84.0%) reported knowing their HIV status, 91.8% of people living with HIV (male 91.6%, female 92.0%) who reported knowing their status reporting taking antiretrovirals, and 87.7% (male and female 87.7%) of these had VLS. Younger age was significantly associated with being less likely to be aware of HIV status for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Findings from this population-based survey provide encouraging data in terms of HIV testing and treatment uptake and coverage. Specific attention to reaching youth to engage them in HIV-related interventions are critical to achieving epidemic control.

Background A previous analysis of the impact of drought in Africa on HIV demonstrated an 11% greater prevalence in HIV-endemic rural areas attributable to local rainfall shocks. The Lesotho Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment (LePHIA) was conducted after the severe drought of 2014–2016, allowing for reevaluation of this relationship in a setting of expanded antiretroviral coverage. Methods and findings LePHIA selected a nationally representative sample between November 2016 and May 2017. All adults aged 15–59 years in randomly selected households were invited to complete an interview and HIV testing, with one woman per household eligible to answer questions on their experience of sexual violence. Deviations in rainfall for May 2014–June 2016 were estimated using precipitation data from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation with Station Data (CHIRPS), with drought defined as, Andrea Low and colleagues present findings from their study in which a link between drought and increased HIV incidence in young girls in Lesotho is observed., Author summary Why was this study done? Periods of climate extremes have been shown to lead to increases in high-risk behaviors, particularly in agricultural communities dependent on rainfall for their livelihoods. Prior studies have linked these increases in riskier sexual behaviors, such as extramarital partnerships and transactional sex, to increases in HIV acquisition. The Lesotho Population-Based HIV Impact Assessment, a national HIV survey conducted from November 2016 to May 2017 following a 2-year severe drought in southern Africa, allowed us to reevaluate this relationship in the setting of expanded antiretroviral use. What did the researchers do and find? We paired geospatial data on accumulated rainfall from 2014 to 2016 with data from the survey to determine if there were any associations between drought and HIV outcomes. A total of 12,887 adults ages 15–59 years completed a detailed questionnaire, and 11,682 underwent an HIV test. Adolescent girls and young women ages 15–24 years in rural areas of drought had higher rates of high-risk behaviors, such as early sexual debut and transactional sex, and had lower educational attainment. Living in a drought area appeared to be associated with greater HIV prevalence in young females and was associated with a lower HIV prevalence in young males. However, external migration, commonly seen during these periods, was associated with a greater prevalence of HIV in men and women. What do these findings mean? Future policy on mitigation of climate change in southern Africa may consider including HIV prevention interventions in populations at high risk. This could include preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for migrants and young women in areas of severe food insecurity. Likewise, HIV programs that provide social and economic support to young women as part of an HIV prevention strategy should consider targeting areas affected by drought. Further studies should be done in other settings to investigate the external validity of these findings, particularly in terms of the impact on HIV in young women.

Summary Background HIV acquisition remains high among adolescent girls and young women (AGYW, aged 15–24 years) in sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to estimate prevalence and incidence of HIV in AGYW and to identify correlates of HIV infection by using data from the Lesotho Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (LePHIA). Methods LePHIA was a nationally representative survey of adults and children based on a multistage cluster sampling method with random selection of enumeration areas and households. All adults aged 15 years and older who had slept in the household the night before were eligible for participation; participants completed an interview and HIV testing. We estimated incidence with the HIV-1 limiting antigen avidity enzyme immunoassay combined with viral load and examined the association between demographic and behavioural variables (including characteristics of cohabitating mothers and sexual partners, when available) and prevalence and incidence among AGYW using logistic regression, incorporating survey weights. Findings We interviewed 8824 households, including 2358 AGYW who were tested for HIV infection. Weighted HIV prevalence was 11·1% (95% CI 9·7–12·5) in the overall population (273 of 2358 AGYW), 5·7% (4·1–7·2) in adolescent girls aged 15–19 years (64 of 1156), and 16·7% (14·4–19·0) in women aged 20–24 years (209 of 1212). Annualised HIV incidence was 1·8% (0·8–2·8). Correlates of prevalent infection include reporting a history of anal sex (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 3·08, 1·11–8·57), having lived outside Lesotho in the past year (1·86, 1·01–3·42), having a partner suspected or known to be HIV positive (11·7, 6·0–22·5), and having two or more lifetime sexual partners (1·84, 1·21–2·78, for 2–3 lifetime sexual partners; 2·44, 1·45–4·08, for ≥4 lifetime sexual partners). For the 570 AGYW living with their mothers, maternal education was negatively associated with HIV prevalence in their daughters (aOR 0·36, 0·15–0·82, per increase in level attended). For AGYW with a cohabitating partner, the factors associated with AGYW infection were partner age (OR 4·54, 1·30–15·80, for partners aged 35–49 years, although the OR was no longer significant when adjusted for HIV status of partner), HIV status (aOR 11·22, 4·05–31·05), lack of viral load suppression (OR 0·16, 0·04–0·66), and partner employment in the past year (aOR 3·41, 1·12–10·42). Interpretation The findings confirm the importance of improving the treatment cascade in male partners and targeting preventive interventions to AGYW who are at increased risk. A regional approach to prevention could mitigate the effect of migration on transnational spread of HIV. Funding President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.