Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40924777›Full record

ArticlePloS one2025

Prevalence and predictors of viral load non-suppression among adolescents on dolutegravir-based antiretroviral therapy: A cross-sectional study from three urban clinics, Soroti City.

Connie Nait, Simple Ouma, Saadick Mugerwa Ssentongo, Boniface Oryokot, Abraham Ignatius Oluka, Raymond Kusiima, Victoria Nankabirwa, John Bosco Isunju

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Article in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
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5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

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

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Connie NaitSchool of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.ORCID 0009-0004-6616-9535
Simple OumaDirectorate of Research and Capacity Development, The AIDS Support Organization, Kampala, Uganda.
Saadick Mugerwa SsentongoDirectorate of Program Management and Capacity Development, AIDS Information Center, Kampala, Uganda.
Boniface OryokotDirectorate of Program Management and Capacity Development, AIDS Information Center, Kampala, Uganda.
Abraham Ignatius OlukaDirectorate of Program Management and Capacity Development, AIDS Information Center, Kampala, Uganda.
Raymond KusiimaDirectorate of Program Management and Capacity Development, AIDS Information Center, Kampala, Uganda.
Victoria NankabirwaSchool of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
John Bosco IsunjuSchool of Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDespite advances in HIV care, viral load suppression (VLS) among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) in Uganda continue to lag behind that of adults, even with the introduction of dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimens, the Youth and Adolescent Peer Supporter (YAPS) model, and community-based approaches. Understanding factors associated with HIV viral load non-suppression in this population is critical to inform HIV treatment policy. This study assessed the prevalence and predictors of viral load non-suppression among ALHIV aged 10-19 years on DTG-based ART in Soroti City, Uganda.

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study among 447 ALHIV attending three urban HIV clinics in Soroti City. Data were abstracted using a structured questionnaire and analyzed in STATA 15.0. Modified Poisson regression with robust error variance was used to identify predictors of viral load non-suppression. Adjusted relative risks (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported, with statistical significance set at p ≤ 0.05.

resultsOf the 447 participants, 53.5% were female, with a median age of 16 years (IQR: 14.0-17.6). The majority (72.9%) were from Soroti district and had been on DTG-based ART for a median of 42.5 months (IQR: 37.0-48.0). Most were receiving multi-month dispensing (MMD) (75.2%) and were active in care (98%). The prevalence of viral load non-suppression was 19.2% (86/447). Independent predictors of non-suppression included older age (15-19 vs. 10-14 years) (aRR: 1.69; 95% CI: 1.08-2.67), male sex (aRR: 1.48; 95% CI: 1.05-2.11), prior non-suppression before switching to DTG (aRR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.19-2.59), use of non-fixed dose DTG regimens (aRR: 2.03; 95% CI: 1.23-3.33), history of poor adherence (aRR: 4.36; 95% CI: 2.05-9.26), and not receiving MMD (aRR: 2.83; 95% CI: 1.93-4.15).

conclusionNearly one in five adolescents on DTG-based ART in Soroti City had viral non-suppression, despite optimized treatment regimens. Targeted interventions-particularly enhanced adherence counseling for older and male adolescents, expanding MMD coverage, and provision of fixed-dose regimens-are urgently needed to improve VLS among ALHIV. These findings underscore the need for adolescent-centered HIV care strategies to close the viral suppression gap and advance progress towards epidemic control.

Indexed as

Anti-HIV AgentsHeterocyclic Compounds, 3-RingHIV InfectionsViral LoadAdolescentChildCross-Sectional StudiesDolutegravirFemaleHIV Integrase InhibitorsHumansMaleOxazinesPiperazinesPrevalencePyridonesAnti-HIV AgentsDolutegravirHeterocyclic Compounds, 3-RingHIV Integrase InhibitorsOxazinesPiperazinesPyridones

Identifiers

PMID40924777
PMCPMC12419619

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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.