Horwitz, Russell H.Tsai, Alexander C.Maling, SamuelBajunirwe, FrancisHaberer, Jessica E.Emenyonu, NnekaMuzoora, ConradHunt, Peter W.Martin, Jeffrey N.Bangsberg, David R.2021-12-152021-12-152013Horwitz, R. H., Tsai, A. C., Maling, S., Bajunirwe, F., Haberer, J. E., Emenyonu, N., ... & Bangsberg, D. R. (2013). No association found between traditional healer use and delayed antiretroviral initiation in rural Uganda. AIDS and Behavior, 17(1), 260-265.https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0132-7https://nru.uncst.go.ug/xmlui/handle/123456789/598Traditional healer and/or spiritual counselor (TH/SC) use has been associated with delays in HIV testing. We examined HIV-infected individuals in southwestern Uganda to test the hypothesis that TH/SC use was also associated with lower CD4 counts at antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation. Approximately 450 individuals initiating ART through an HIV/AIDS clinic at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) were recruited to participate. Patients were predominantly female, ranged in age from 18 to 75, and had a median CD4 count of 130. TH/SC use was not associated with lower CD4 cell count, but age and quality-of-life physical health summary score were associated with CD4 cell count at initiation while asset index was negatively associated with CD4 count at ART initiation. These findings suggest that TH/SC use does not delay initiation of ART.enHIV/AIDS; traditional healer; spiritual counselor; late presentation; UgandaArticle