Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34627300›Full record

ArticleAIDS research and therapy2021

Determinants of viral suppression among adolescents on antiretroviral treatment in Ehlanzeni district, South Africa: a cross-sectional analysis.

Emeka F Okonji, Brian van Wyk, Ferdinand C Mukumbang, Gail D Hughes

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in AIDS research and therapy, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 47 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
47citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
2.3field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

47 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 66 citations in OpenAlex.

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  17. HIV Viral Re-Suppression on Second-Line ART in Southern Zimbabwe.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Emeka F OkonjiSchool of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, P Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa. emekaokonji@yahoo.com.ORCID 0000-0002-3499-6948
Brian van WykSchool of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, P Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0003-1032-1847
Ferdinand C MukumbangSchool of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, P Bag X17, Bellville, 7535, South Africa.ORCID 0000-0003-1441-2172
Gail D HughesMedical Biosciences Department, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, South Africa.
University of the Western Cape · ZAUniversity of Washington · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAchieving undetectable viral load is crucial for the reduction of HIV transmissions, AIDS-related illnesses and death. Adolescents (10 to19 years) living with HIV (ALHIV) on antiretroviral treatment (ART) have worse treatment adherence and lower viral suppression rates compared to adults. We report on the clinical factors associated with viral suppression among ALHIV in the Ehlanzeni district, Mpumalanga in South Africa.

methodsA cross-sectional analysis was conducted with 9386 ALHIV, aged 10 to 19 years, who were enrolled in 136 ART clinics in the Ehlanzeni district. Clinical and immunological data were obtained from electronic medical records (Tier.net). ALHIV were categorised as having achieved viral suppression if their latest viral load count was < 1000 ribonucleic acid (RNA) copies/mL. Using a backward stepwise approach, a multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors independently associated with viral suppression.

resultsThe mean age of the participants was 14.75 years (SD = 2.9), and 55.43% were female. Mean duration on ART was 72.26 (SD = 42.3) months. Of the 9386 adolescents with viral load results recorded, 74% had achieved viral suppression. After adjusting for other covariates, the likelihood of achieving viral suppression remained significantly higher among ALHIV who were: female (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI 1.05-1.39), and had most recent CD4 count > 200 (AOR = 2.53, 95% CI 2.06-3.11). Furthermore, the likelihood of having viral suppression was lower among adolescents with CD4 count > 200 at baseline (AOR = 0.73, 95% CI 0.61-0.87), and who were switched to second line regimen (AOR = 0.41, 95% CI 0.34-0.49).

conclusionsViral suppression amongst ALHIV at 74% is considerably lower than the WHO target of 95%. Of particular concern for intervention is the lower rates of viral suppression amongst male ALHIV. Greater emphasis should be placed to early enrolment of ALHIV on ART and keeping them engaged in care (beyond 6 months). Furthermore, improved and regular viral load monitoring will help to adequately identify and manage ALHIV with unsuppressed viral load and subsequently switching to second line treatment.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsAdolescentAdultAnti-Retroviral AgentsCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMaleSouth AfricaViral LoadAnti-Retroviral AgentsAdherence and retentionAdolescentsHIV and AIDSInterventionsViral suppression

Identifiers

PMID34627300
PMCPMC8501534
OpenAlexW3206179660

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.