scholarly journals Are you suppressed? Viral load test coverage for people living with HIV in Mutare District, Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe, 2015-2017 Investigators

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Uzande ◽  
Jeffery Edwards ◽  
Philip Owiti ◽  
Admire Tatenda Maravanyika ◽  
Simba Mashizha ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground:The third 90-90-90 UNAIDS goal require that 90% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral treatment (ART) achieve viral load (VL) suppression. This study assessed the proportion of VL suppression and related factors among PLHIV on 1st and 2nd line ART in Mutare District, Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe between 2015-2017.Methods:A retrospective study using routine HIV programme data from the electronic monitoring system for nine health facilities in Mutare District. VL suppression was defined as < 1,000 copies/ml.Results:Of 16,590 registered patients, 15,566(94%) were on first-line and 1024(6%) on second-line ART. Of those on 1st-line ART, 2856(18%) had a VL test result documented, while 367(36%) of 2nd-line ART patients had VL results. VL suppression rates were 86% among those on 1st-line and 45% in 2nd-line ART. Independent risk factors associated with VL non-suppression for those on 1st-line ART were age 0-9 years (adjusted relative risk, aRR=2.9; 95% confidence interval, CI=1.7-4.8;P<0.001), 10-19 years (aRR=2.2;95%CI=1.4-3.2,P<0.001) compared to those 20-49 years, concurrent TB (aRR=9; CI=3.0-29.7,P<0.001) and male gender (aRR=1.5,95%CI=1.1-2.1;P=0.02). There were no significant risk factors associated with VL non-suppression for 2nd-line ART patients.Conclusion:For PLHIV on 1st-line ART in Mutare district, Manicaland, Zimbabwe, the frequency of reported VL results were only 18% among those on 1st-line ART, while the rate of VL suppression was near 90%. Viral Load testing coverage appears to be lagging behind current Zimbabwe goals and increased support is needed to improve the quality of HIV care and help reduce the threat of possible HIV drug resistance in the future.

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 140
Author(s):  
Sai Soe Thu Ya ◽  
Anthony D. Harries ◽  
Khin Thet Wai ◽  
Nang Thu Thu Kyaw ◽  
Thet Ko Aung ◽  
...  

Myanmar has introduced routine viral load (VL) testing for people living with HIV (PLHIV) starting first-line antiretroviral therapy (ART). The first VL test was initially scheduled at 12-months and one year later this changed to 6-months. Using routinely collected secondary data, we assessed program performance of routine VL testing at 12-months and 6-months in PLHIV starting ART in the Integrated HIV-Care Program, Myanmar, from January 2016 to December 2017. There were 7153 PLHIV scheduled for VL testing at 12-months and 1976 scheduled for VL testing at 6-months. Among those eligible for testing, the first VL test was performed in 3476 (51%) of the 12-month cohort and 952 (50%) of the 6-month cohort. In the 12-month cohort, 10% had VL > 1000 copies/mL, 79% had repeat VL tests, 42% had repeat VL > 1000 copies/mL (virologic failure) and 85% were switched to second-line ART. In the 6-month cohort, 11% had VL > 1000 copies/mL, 83% had repeat VL tests, 26% had repeat VL > 1000 copies/mL (virologic failure) and 39% were switched to second-line ART. In conclusion, half of PLHIV initiated on ART had VL testing as scheduled at 12-months or 6-months, but fewer PLHIV in the 6-month cohort were diagnosed with virologic failure and switched to second-line ART. Programmatic implications are discussed.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laelson Rochelle Milanês Sousa ◽  
Henrique Ciabotti Elias ◽  
Nilo Martinez Fernandes ◽  
Elucir Gir ◽  
Renata Karina Reis

Abstract Background: Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP) are key to preventing sexual transmission of HIV, whose sexual partners are at high risk of acquiring HIV. We aimed to determine the factors associated with PrEP and PEP's knowledge as secondary prevention among people living with HIV/AIDS.Method: Cross-sectional analytical study carried out among people living with HIV/AIDS treated at five specialized services in the city of Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil. Data were collected from July 2016 to July 2017. Individual interviews were conducted. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine factors associated with knowing PrEP and PEP. Results: Of the 397 participants, 140 (35.26%) were heterosexual women aged 40 to 49 years (36.2%).Participants with less than 11 years of study (adjusted odds: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.13-0.60); who did not have a low viral load or did not know their viral load (adjusted odds: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.09-0.83) and those with casual partners (adjusted odds: 0.29; 95% CI: 0.09- 0.83) were less likely to know about the PrEP. MSM (adjusted odds: 2.88; 95% CI: 1.59-5.3) and those who used alcohol during sexual intercourse (adjusted odds: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.0-2.8) were more likely to know about the PEP.Conclusions: The knowledge about PEP and PrEP is low in Brazil. This may undermine secondary prevention efforts. Educational interventions to raise awareness of these prevention methods are needed among people living with HIV and who have HIV-negative sexual partners.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S189-S190
Author(s):  
Ethar Mohammed ◽  
Puja Nambiar

Abstract Background HIV and HCV infection are emerging global public health problems. People living with untreated HIV infection have higher HCV viral loads and more rapid HCV disease progression with twice the rates of perinatal HCV transmission. Data are lacking in HCV coinfected women living with HIV. Our study reviewed underrepresented minority group of women living with HIV/HCV in Northwestern Louisiana to better understand epidemiology, risk factors and access to care among this cohort. Methods Women with HIV/HCV coinfection aged 18–70 years who presented to an academic medical center between November 2011 and November 2018 were included for analysis. A retrospective chart review was conducted. Data were collected and analyzed on demographics (age, race), risk factors (sexual history, drug use), HIV (viral load, CD4 count, antiretroviral treatment (ART)), and HCV (viral load level and antibody, genotype, alanine transaminase, liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, referral, and treatment). Results A total of 41 patients met our inclusion criteria. The mean age was 52 years. Of these HIV/ HCV coinfected women, 27 (66%) were African American and 14 (34%) Caucasian. 18 (44%) had history of Injection drug use. Thirty-nine out of 41 (95%) were linked to HIV care and on antiretroviral therapy with 36 (88%) with CD4 count >200. Twenty-three out of 41 (56%) was referred for HCV treatment but only 11 (26%) co-infected patients received treatment for HCV. Conclusion In this cohort of HCV/HIV coinfected women, only 26% of the women received HCV treatment. Some of the barriers include access to providers, linkage to care and behavioral and socioeconomic factors. The lack of timely appropriate HCV care in this underserved high-risk population is alarming especially in the current era of highly effective direct-acting antiviral therapy for HCV. Despite improved HIV care, further work needs to focus on optimizing HCV screening, linkage and treatment uptake in order to overcome multiple barriers to HCV elimination in this patient population. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-31
Author(s):  
Adamu Babayo ◽  
Idris Nasir Abdullahi ◽  
Mansur Bala Safiyanu ◽  
Hafeez Aderinsayo Adekola ◽  
Jamila Nasir Usman

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silviu Tomescu ◽  
Thomas Crompton ◽  
Jonathan Adebayo ◽  
Constance Wose Kinge ◽  
Francis Akpan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Patient interruption of antiretroviral therapy (ART) continues to limit HIV programs’ progress toward epidemic control. Multiple factors have been associated with program interruptions in treatment (IIT)—also referred to by the World Health Organization as loss to follow-up (LTFU)―including age, gender, CD4 count, and education level. Program implementers can prevent future IIT by understanding which clients are more likely to interrupt treatment. In this paper, we explore the factors associated with treatment interruptions in people living with HIV (PLHIV) in United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-supported facilities under the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program in Nigeria. Methods: A retrospective secondary cross-sectional analysis on data obtained from Nigeria’s National Data Repository (NDR), representing a summarized record of 573 630 ART clients that received care at 484 PEPFAR/USAID-supported facilities in 16 states from 2000‒2020 were used in this analysis. Interruption in treatment was recorded as no clinical contact for 28 days after the last scheduled appointment or expected clinical contact. Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were computed to explore the factors associated with IIT. The variables included in the analysis were sex, age group, zone, facility type, regimen line, multi-month dispensing (MMD), and viral load category.Results: Of the 573 630 clients analysed in this study, 32% in the cohort have been recorded as having interrupted treatment. Of the clients investigated, 66% were female (32% had interruption in treatment), 39% were aged 25‒34 at their last ART pick-up date (with 32% of them interrupted treatment), 62% received care at a hospital (38% interrupted treatment) and 38% were last receiving between three- to five-month MMD (with 10% of these interrupted treatments). Those less likely to interrupt ART were males (aOR = 0.93), clients on six-month MMD (aOR = 0.04), adults on 2nd line regimen (aOR = 0.14), and paediatrics on 1st line regimen (aOR = 0.09). Clients most likely to interrupt ART were located in the South West Zone (aOR = 1.91), received treatment at a hospital (aOR = 3.39) or medical center (aOR = 5.15), and had no viral load (VL) on record (aOR =8.92). Age group was not significantly associated with IIT.Conclusions: Sex, zone, facility type, regimen line, MMD, and VL were significantly associated with IIT. MMD of three months and longer (especially six months) had better retention on ART than those on shorter MMD. Not having a VL on record was associated with a considerable risk of IIT.


2021 ◽  
pp. 095646242110552
Author(s):  
Mohammad Zubair Harooni ◽  
Abdul Alim Atarud ◽  
Ehsanullah Ehsan ◽  
Ajmal Alokozai ◽  
Willi McFarland ◽  
...  

Background Afghanistan adopted a “test and treat” strategy for all people living with HIV (PLWH) in 2016. In this study, we presented demographic and clinical characteristics of all people diagnosed between 2013 and 2019 and evaluated progress towards 90-90-90 UNAIDS targets and identified program gaps among PLWH in Afghanistan diagnosed in 2018. Methods We used clinical, behavioral, and demographic data from national HIV surveillance for 1394 patients diagnosed from 2013 through 2019. We also tracked 184 patients diagnosed with HIV in 2018 over 15 months to assess their enrollment in care, antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, retention on ART, and viral suppression. Results Of 1394 patients diagnosed from 2013 through 2019, 76.0% were male, 73.7% were older than 24 years, and 33.4% acquired HIV through heterosexual sex. Of the 184 patients diagnosed in 2018, 94.6% were enrolled in care, 88.6% received ART, 84.2% were retained on ART for at least 12 months, and 33.7% received a viral load test. Of those with a viral load test, 74.2% were virally suppressed. Patients who were 35–44 years old (52.0%, p-value .001), acquired HIV through unsafe injection (62.5%, p-value .413), were co-infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV) (60.0%, p-value .449), and with CD4 > 500 at diagnosis (64.7%, p-value .294) were less likely to be virally suppressed 12 months after diagnosis. Conclusion Nearly 95% of people diagnosed with HIV in Afghanistan in 2018 were linked to care and nearly 90% were on ART. Viral testing and viral suppression remain low with notable disparities for middle-aged patients, and possibly for those who injected drugs. Addressing barriers to HIV programs in Afghanistan, particularly for people who inject drugs (PWID), are urgently needed to reach the 90-90-90 global targets. Surveillance data on the number of people with undiagnosed HIV is needed to assess the first 90 target.


Diagnostics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 140
Author(s):  
Michelle Ann Bulterys ◽  
Patrick Oyaro ◽  
Evelyn Brown ◽  
Nashon Yongo ◽  
Enericah Karauki ◽  
...  

Background: The number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in need of treatment monitoring in low-and-middle-income countries is rapidly expanding, straining existing laboratory capacity. Point-of-care viral load (POC VL) testing can alleviate the burden on centralized laboratories and enable faster delivery of results, improving clinical outcomes. However, implementation costs are uncertain and will depend on clinic testing volume. We sought to estimate the costs of decentralized POC VL testing compared to centralized laboratory testing for adults and children receiving HIV care in Kenya. Methods: We conducted microcosting to estimate the per-patient costs of POC VL testing compared to known costs of centralized laboratory testing. We completed time-and-motion observations and stakeholder interviews to assess personnel structures, staff time, equipment costs, and laboratory processes associated with POC VL administration. Capital costs were estimated using a 5 year lifespan and a 3% annual discount rate. Results: We estimated that POC VL testing cost USD $24.25 per test, assuming a clinic is conducting 100 VL tests per month. Test cartridge and laboratory equipment costs accounted for most of the cost (62% and 28%, respectively). Costs varied by number of VL tests conducted at the clinic, ranging from $54.93 to $18.12 per test assuming 20 to 500 VL tests per month, respectively. A VL test processed at a centralized laboratory was estimated to cost USD $25.65. Conclusion: POC VL testing for HIV treatment monitoring can be feasibly implemented in clinics within Kenya and costs declined with higher testing volumes. Our cost estimates are useful to policymakers in planning resource allocation and can inform cost-effectiveness analyses evaluating POC VL testing.


10.2196/13741 ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (11) ◽  
pp. e13741
Author(s):  
Phillipe Lepère ◽  
Yélamikan Touré ◽  
Alexandra M Bitty-Anderson ◽  
Simon P Boni ◽  
Gildas Anago ◽  
...  

Background The use of mobile technology in health care (mobile health [mHealth]) could be an innovative way to improve health care, especially for increasing retention in HIV care and adherence to treatment. However, there is a scarcity of studies on mHealth among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in West and Central Africa. Objective The aim of this study was to assess the acceptability of an mHealth intervention among PLHIV in three countries of West Africa. Methods A cross-sectional study among PLHIV was conducted in 2017 in three francophone West African countries: Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, and Togo. PLHIV followed in the six preselected HIV treatment and care centers, completed a standardized questionnaire on mobile phone possession, acceptability of mobile phone for HIV care and treatment, preference of mobile phone services, and phone sharing. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to describe variables and assess factors associated with mHealth acceptability. Results A total of 1131 PLHIV—643 from Côte d’Ivoire, 239 from Togo, and 249 from Burkina Faso—participated in the study. Median age was 44 years, and 76.1% were women (n=861). Almost all participants owned a mobile phone (n=1107, 97.9%), and 12.6% (n=140) shared phones with a third party. Acceptability of mHealth was 98.8%, with the majority indicating their preference for both phone calls and text messages. Factors associated with mHealth acceptability were having a primary school education or no education (adjusted odds ratio=7.15, 95% CI 5.05-10.12; P<.001) and waiting over one hour before meeting a medical doctor on appointment day (adjusted odds ratio=1.84, 95% CI 1.30-2.62; P=.01). Conclusions The use of mHealth in HIV treatment and care is highly acceptable among PLHIV and should be considered a viable tool to allow West and Central African countries to achieve the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 90-90-90 goals.


2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Tekle Mengistu ◽  
Ghirmay Ghebrekidan Ghebremeskel ◽  
Hermon Berhe Ghebrat ◽  
Oliver Okoth Achila ◽  
Nahom Asmerom Yohannes ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Information on treatment failure (TF) in People living with HIV in data-poor jurisdictions is necessary to counter the rapidly escalating epidemic of TF to first-line combined anti-retroviral therapies (cART) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In this study, we examined the risk factors associated with TF in Asmara, Eritrea.Methods: A multicenter, retrospective 1:2 matched (by age and gender) case-control study was conducted in four major hospitals in Asmara, Eritrea on adults aged >15 years who were on treatment for at least 6 months. Cases were patients with viral load ≥1000 copies/mL anytime between 2019-2021 and/or patients switched to second line cART. Controls were randomly selected from patients on first-line ART with viral load < 1000 copies/mL. Data was extracted using a checklist from the master data set and analyzed using SPSS version 26. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify risk factors for TF. All p-values were 2-sided and the level of significance was set at p < 0.05 for all analyses.Results: Of the 1068 participants, 585 (54.7%) were females. The median age at treatment initiation was 46 years (interquartile range (IQR): 39–51). Median time to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) failure was 37 months (IQR =24–47). In multivariate analysis factors associated with increased likelihood of virologic failure (VF) were the type of initially used nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) backbone ( (Zidovudine+Lamivudine (AZT+3TC): adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 2.70; 95% Confidence interval (CI): 1.65-4.41, p-value<0.001), (Abacavir+lamivudine (ABC+3TC): aOR: 4.73; 95%CI: 1.18-18.92, p-value=0.028), and (Stavudine+Lamivudine (D4T+3TC): aOR: 5.00; 95% CI: 3.03-8.20, p-value<0.001), prior exposure to ART (aOR: 2.28; 95%CI:1.35–3.86; p=0.002), record of sub-optimal drug adherence (aOR: 3.08; 95%CI: 2.22–4.28; p<0.001), ambulatory/bedridden at presentation (aOR:1.61; 95%CI: 1.12-4.28; p-value=0.010), presence of comorbidities (aOR: 2.37; 95%CI: 1.36-4.10, p-value=0.002), duration of cART (<5 years: aOR: 5.90; 95% CI: 3.95-8.73, p-value<0.001), and use of SMX-TMP prophylaxis ( aOR : 2.00, 95%CI, 1.44-2.78, p-value<0.001). Conclusion: Our findings underscore the importance of optimizing cART adherence, diversification of cART regimens, and interventions directed at enhancing early HIV diagnosis, prompt initiations of treatment and improved patient focused monitoring of treatment response.


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