Progress toward HIV epidemic control in Lesotho

Details

• Alternative Title:
  AIDS
• Personal Author:
  Thin, Kyaw ; Frederix, Koen ; McCracken, Stephen ; Letsie, Mosilinyane ; Low, Andrea ; Patel, Hetal ; Parekh, Bharat ; Motsoane, Tsietso ; Ahmed, Nahima ; Justman, Jessica ; Callaghan, Larkin ; Tembo, Susan ; Schwitters, Amee
• Description:
  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.
  
  
• Subjects:
  Adolescent Adult Anti-Retroviral Agents Epidemics Family Characteristics Female HIV Infections Humans Incidence Logistic Models Male Mass Screening Middle Aged Prevalence Sampling Studies Surveys And Questionnaires Viral Load Young Adult

  More +
• Keywords:
  Africa ART HIV Lesotho Survey Viral Load Suppression
• Source:
  AIDS. 33(15):2393-2401
• Pubmed ID:
  31764104
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC8064033
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Funding:
  001/WHO_/World Health OrganizationInternational/ ; CC999999/Intramural CDC HHSUnited States/ ; U2G GH001226/GH/CGH CDC HHSUnited States/ ; PEPFAR/PEPFARUnited States/
• Place as Subject:
  Lesotho
• Volume:
  33
• Issue:
  15
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:4e6d5d17941c2426d98703544e375b7e0ba26cc8252fd82b0dfbc623d5b21b76
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/105471/cdc_105471_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 205.83 KB ]