Browsing by Author "Reed, Domonique"

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    Assessing the impact of HIV support groups on antiretroviral therapy adherence and viral suppression in the African cohort study
    (BMC Infectious Diseases, 2021) Mbah, Prudence; Iroezindu, Michael; Esber, Allahna L.; Dear, Nicole; Reed, Domonique; Adamu, Yakubu; Kibuuka, Hannah; Maswai, Jonah; Bahemana, Emmanuel; Ake, Julie A.; Polyak, Christina S.
    Support groups for people living with HIV (PLWH) may improve HIV care adherence and outcomes. We assessed the impact of support group attendance on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and viral suppression in four African countries. Methods: The ongoing African Cohort Study (AFRICOS) enrolls participants at 12 clinics in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and Nigeria. Self-reported attendance of any support group meetings, self-reported ART adherence, and HIV RNA are assessed every 6 months. Logistic regression models with generalized estimating equations were used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for support group attendance and other factors potentially associated with ART adherence and viral suppression. Results: From January 2013 to December 1, 2019, 1959 ART-experienced PLWH were enrolled and 320 (16.3%) reported any support group attendance prior to enrollment. Complete ART adherence, with no missed doses in the last 30 days, was reported by 87.8% while 92.4% had viral suppression <1000copies/mL across all available visits. There was no association between support group attendance and ART adherence in unadjusted (OR 1.01, 95% CI 0.99–1.03) or adjusted analyses (aOR 1.00, 95% CI 0.98–1.02). Compared to PLWH who did not report support group attendance, those who did had similar odds of viral suppression in unadjusted (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.978–1.01) and adjusted analyses (aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.97–1.01). Conclusion: Support group attendance was not associated with significantly improved ART adherence or viral suppression, although low support group uptake may have limited our ability to detect a statistically significant impact.
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    Factors associated with sexually transmitted infections among care-seeking adults in the African Cohort Study
    (BMC public health, 2021) Semwogerere, Michael; Dear, Nicole; Tunnage, Joshua; Reed, Domonique; Kibuuka, Hannah; Kiweewa, Francis; Iroezindu, Michael; Bahemana, Emmanuel; Maswai, Jonah; Owuoth, John; Crowell, Trevor A.; Ake, Julie A.; Polyak, Christina S.; Esber, Allahna
    Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a major cause of morbidity. Understanding drivers of transmission can inform effective prevention programs. We describe STI prevalence and identify factors associated with STIs in four African countries. Methods: The African Cohort Study is an ongoing, prospective cohort in Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. At enrollment, a physical exam was conducted and STI diagnosis made by a clinician using a syndromic management approach. Multivariable logistic regression was used to estimate adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for factors associated with an STI diagnosis. Results: As of June 2020, 3544 participants were enrolled. STI prevalence was 7.7% and did not differ by HIV status (p = 0.30). Prevalence differed by syndrome (3.5% vaginal discharge, 1.5% genital ulcer, 2.1% lower abdominal pain, 0.2% inguinal bubo). The odds of having an STI were higher at all sites compared to Kisumu West, Kenya, and among those with a primary level education or below compared to those with secondary or higher (aOR: 1.77; 95% CI: 1.32–2.38). The odds of an STI diagnosis was higher among participants 18–29 years (aOR: 2.29; 95% CI: 1.35– 3.87), females (aOR: 2.64; 95% CI: 1.94–3.59), and those with depression (aOR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.32–2.38). Among PLWH, similar factors were independently associated with an STI diagnosis. Viral suppression was protective against STIs (aOR: 2.05; 95% CI: 1.32–3.20). Conclusions: Prevalence of STIs varied by site with young people and females most at risk for STIs. Mental health is a potential target area for intervention.
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    Perceived satisfaction with HIV care and its association with adherence to antiretroviral therapy and viral suppression in the African Cohort Study
    (AIDS research and therapy, 2021) Somi, Nancy; Dear, Nicole; Reed, Domonique; Parikh, Ajay; Lwilla, Anange; Bahemana, Emmanuel; Khamadi, Samoel; Iroezindu, Michael; Kibuuka, Hannah; Maswai, Jonah; Crowell, Trevor A.; Owuoth, John; Maganga, Lucas; Polyak, Christina; Ake, Julie; Esber, Allahna
    Increased availability of HIV care over the past decade has dramatically reduced morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV (PLWH) in sub-Saharan Africa. However, perceived and experienced barriers to care, including dissatisfaction with services, may impact adherence and viral suppression. We examined the associations between satisfaction with HIV care and antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and viral load suppression. Methods: The African Cohort Study (AFRICOS) is a prospective observational study conducted at PEPFAR-supported clinics in four African countries. At enrollment and twice-yearly study visits, participants received a clinical assessment and a socio-behavioral questionnaire was administered. Participants were classified as dissatisfied with care if they reported dissatisfaction with any of the following: waiting time, health care worker skills, health care worker attitudes, quality of clinic building, or overall quality of care received. Robust Poisson regression was used to estimate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations between satisfaction with care and ART adherence and between satisfaction with care and viral suppression (viral load < 1000 copies/mL). Results: As of 1 March 2020, 2928 PLWH were enrolled and 2311 had a year of follow-up visits. At the first annual follow-up visit, 2309 participants responded to questions regarding satisfaction with quality of care, and 2069 (89.6%) reported satisfaction with care. Dissatisfaction with waiting time was reported by 177 (7.6%), building quality by 59 (2.6%), overall quality of care by 18 (0.8%), health care worker attitudes by 16 (0.7%), and health care worker skills by 15 (0.7%). After adjusting for age and site, there was no significant difference in viral suppression between those who were satisfied with care and those who were dissatisfied (aPR: 1.03, 95% CI 0.97–1.09). Satisfaction with HIV care was moderately associated with ART adherence among AFRICOS participants (aPR: 1.09; 95% CI 1.00–1.16). Conclusions: While patient satisfaction in AFRICOS was high and the association between perceived quality of care and adherence to ART was marginal, we did identify potential target areas for HIV care improvement, including reducing clinic waiting times.