Back to Search
Start Over
Lack of Virological Suppression Among Young HIV-Positive Adults in Botswana.
- Source :
-
JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes . 8/15/2018, Vol. 78 Issue 5, p557-565. 9p. - Publication Year :
- 2018
-
Abstract
- Background: HIV-1 RNA load is the best biological predictor of HIV transmission and treatment response. The rate of virologic suppression among key subpopulations can guide HIV prevention programs. Methods: The Botswana Combination Prevention Project performed a population-based household survey among adults in 30 communities in Botswana. Data collected included knowledge of HIV-positive status, antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage, and virologic suppression (HIV-1 RNA 7400 copies per milliliter). Individuals aged 16-29 years were considered young adults. Results: Among 552 young people living with HIV enrolled with RNA load data and ART status available, 51% (n = 279) had undetectable HIV-1 RNA, including 54% of young women and 32% of young men [sex prevalence ratio (PR): 0.53; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.43 to 0.80; P , 0.001]. Compared with older adults (30-64 years old), young HIV-infected adults were significantly less likely to have undetectable HIV-1 RNA (PR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.59 to 0.70; P , 0.0001), including both men (PR: 0.43; 95% CI: 0.34 to 0.56; P , 0.0001) and women (PR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.62 to 0.74; P , 0.0001). Among a subset of people living with HIV receiving ART, young adults also were less likely to have undetectable HIV-1 RNA load than older adults (PR: 0.93; 95% CI: 0.90 to 0.95; P = ,0.0001). Analysis of the care continuum revealed that inferior HIV diagnosis and suboptimal linkage to care are the primary reasons for low virologic suppression among young adults. Conclusions: Young adults in Botswana are significantly less likely to have undetectable HIV-1 RNA load compared with older adults. In the era of broad scale-up of ART, interventions able to diagnose young adults living with HIV and link them to effective therapy are urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 15254135
- Volume :
- 78
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- JAIDS: Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 132323986
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1097/QAI.0000000000001715