Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40202924›Full record

ArticleAIDS (London, England)2025

Predictors of unsuppressed viral load among MSM with HIV in South Africa.

Jessica S van der Mannen, Stanford Furamera, Jacqueline Pienaar, Pontsho Komane, Luxolo Shokota, Boitumelo Ramashala, Lindiwe Tsope, Elise M van der Elst, Danielle Giovenco, Don Operario and 1 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in AIDS (London, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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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

11 authors.

Jessica S van der MannenImplementation Research Division, The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Stanford FurameraHealth Systems Division, The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Jacqueline PienaarHealth Systems Division, The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Pontsho KomaneHealth Systems Division, The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Luxolo ShokotaHealth Systems Division, The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Boitumelo RamashalaHealth Systems Division, The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Lindiwe TsopeImplementation Research Division, The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.
Elise M van der ElstDepartment of Interdisciplinary Social Science, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Danielle GiovencoBehavior, Social and Health Education Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Don OperarioBehavior, Social and Health Education Sciences, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Eduard J SandersImplementation Research Division, The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa.

Funding

Addressing mental health and medication adherence among MSM in South AfricaR34MH135806 · NIMH · EMORY UNIVERSITY · PI DON OPERARIO, Eduard Sanders · 2024 to 2026
$567k
NIMH NIH HHS R34 MH135806
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionSouth Africa has the largest HIV epidemic of the world, but predictors of unsuppressed viral load among MSM are scarce.

methodsWe did a cross-sectional study to assess socio-demographic characteristics, year of antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, and viral load data from 1385 MSM registered in five key population clinics in five districts in South Africa in 2023 and 2024. We used logistic regression to assess predictors of unsuppressed viral load (≥200 copies/ml). We then conducted a case--control study involving 57 cases (viral load≥200 copies/ml) and 57 matched controls (viral load<200 copies/ml; matched on age, ART start date, clinic, and outreach vs. facility attendance) drawn from the cross-sectional study to explore additional differences between groups.

resultsIn the cross-sectional study, predictors for unsuppressed viral load included on ART for 1-2 years [odds ratio (OR) 3.53; 1.77-7.69] or 3-5 years (OR 2.33; 1.18-5.04) vs. more than 5 years, being an outreach vs. facility-based client (OR: 2.64; 1.79-3.94), and enrolled at Johannesburg (OR: 3.53; 2.25-5.64), or Durban (OR: 0.36; 0.84-0.70), vs. Pretoria. The case-control study identified predictors for unsuppressed viral load, which included missing more than four ART dosages per month (OR: 5.55; 1.19-41,03), having moderate to severe anxiety (OR: 3.90; 1.34-12,52), hazardous alcohol use (OR: 2.70; 1.14-6.81), and Christian vs. no religion (OR: 3.89; 1.34-12.29).

conclusionWe identified regional differences and key predictors of unsuppressed viral load among MSM living with HIV in South Africa. Screening for risk factors for unsuppressed viral load at ART continuation may inform where adherence support and other health services are needed.

Indexed as

HIV InfectionsHomosexuality, MaleViral LoadAdultAnti-HIV AgentsAnti-Retroviral AgentsCase-Control StudiesCross-Sectional StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedSouth AfricaYoung AdultAnti-HIV AgentsAnti-Retroviral Agentsadherenceantiretroviral therapyanxietyHIVmedication adherencemental healthMSMSouth Africaunsuppressed viral load

Identifiers

PMID40202924
PMCPMC12237100

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
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.