Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40205329›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2025

Determinants of viral load suppression among adolescents on antiretroviral therapy in Eswatini: a cross-sectional study.

Londiwe D Hlophe, Constance S Shumba, Diribsa T Bedada, Peter S Nyasulu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–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

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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

7 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

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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.

Londiwe D HlopheDivision of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa. londiwehlope85@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6595-4436
Constance S Shumba *Division of Epidemiology and Social Sciences, Institute for Health and Equity, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, United States of America.
Diribsa T Bedada *Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.
Peter S Nyasulu *Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2757-0663

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe goal of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is to achieve a sustained HIV suppressed viral load. However, adolescents often present poor adherence to ART which is associated with lower rates of viral load suppression (VLS). The objective of this study was to determine the viral load suppression levels and the associated factors among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) and on ART in Eswatini.

methodsWe conducted cross-sectional analysis of data from 911 adolescents aged 10 to 19 living with HIV and on ART between the period January 2017 and September 2022. We collected data of demographic and clinical variables, using a standardized data abstraction tool. We defined viral load suppression as the latest viral load result of ≤ 1000 copies/ml. Univariable and bivariable logistic regression analysis was done to identify factors associated with VLS and factors with p < 0.1 were included in the multivariable regression analysis to adjust for the confounding effect of other variables such as age, sex, and duration of ART. Factors with p < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

resultsAmong the 911 participants, 60% (457) were female. The mean age of the participants was 16.3 years, with mean duration on ART of 1.8 years. Viral suppression was attained by 88.5% (806/911) of the participants. Residence in the Shiselweni region was an independent factor associated with viral load suppression (aOR 0.37; 95% CI 0.15-0.19; p˂0.027).

conclusionLow VLS is a risk factor for increased viral resistance and perpetuates HIV transmission within the population. Achieving viral suppression among ALHIV in Eswatini is challenging as data shows that VLS is way below the UNAIDS 95% cut off level among individuals on ART. This is particularly more problematic in the Shiselweni region, where viral suppression is lower than the other regions. Therefore, reinforcement of public health interventions is needed to improve treatment support for achieving sustained viral suppression among ALHIV in Eswatini.

Indexed as

Anti-HIV AgentsAnti-Retroviral AgentsHIV InfectionsViral LoadAdolescentAntiretroviral Therapy, Highly ActiveChildCross-Sectional StudiesEswatiniFemaleHumansMaleYoung AdultAnti-HIV AgentsAnti-Retroviral AgentsAdolescents living with HIVAntiretroviral therapyHIVKingdom of eswatiniViral load suppression

Identifiers

PMID40205329
PMCPMC11983843

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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.