Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41886425›Full record

ArticlePloS one2026

Prevalence and correlates of low-level viremia and viral load non-suppression among adults on HIV treatment: Results from the Tanzania HIV Impact Survey, 2022-2023.

Samwel Sumba, Alexander Kailembo, Abbas Ismail, Prosper Njau, Alice Wang, Geofrey Mchau, Baraka Revocatus, Eliezer Anthony Taluka, Mary Mayige, Tepa Nkumbula and 15 more

Abstract read
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Article in PloS one, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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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.

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

25 authors.

Samwel SumbaTanzania Commission for AIDS, Dodoma Tanzania.
Alexander KailemboU.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3439-8171
Abbas IsmailU.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Prosper NjauNational AIDS, STIs and Hepatitis Control Programme, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Alice WangU.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9519-3842
Geofrey MchauU.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Baraka RevocatusBugando Medical Centre, Mwanza, Tanzania.
Eliezer Anthony TalukaICAP at Columbia University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Mary MayigeNational Institute of Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4861-7870
Tepa NkumbulaICAP at Columbia University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Faki Haji FakiZanzibar Integrated HIV, Hepatitis, Tuberculosis, and Leprosy Programme, Unguja, Zanzibar.
Optatus MalewoU.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Nyambura MoremiNational Public Health Laboratory, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Emilian KarugendoNational Bureau of Statistics, Dodoma, Tanzania.
Fahima IssaOffice of Chief Government Statistician, Unguja, Zanzibar.
Ame MasemoZanzibar Health Research Institute, Unguja, Zanzibar.
Rebecca LawsU.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, Atlanta, United States of America.
Divya PatelU.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, Atlanta, United States of America.
Haruka MaruyamaICAP at Columbia University, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Jerome KamwelaTanzania Commission for AIDS, Dodoma Tanzania.
Wafaa El-SadrICAP at Columbia University, New York, United States of America.
George S MgomellaU.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Mahesh SwaminathanU.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Sarah PorterU.S. Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention, Division of Global HIV and TB, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Ahmed KhatibZanzibar AIDS Commission, Unguja, Zanzibar.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundWhile HIV viral load (VL) testing remained a critical approach for monitoring antiretroviral therapy (ART) effectiveness among people living with HIV (PLHIV), limited national data existed on the magnitude and factors associated with key VL thresholds, including low-level viremia (LLV) and VL non-suppression in Tanzania. We analyzed the prevalence and socio-demographic and behavioral factors associated with LLV and VL non-suppression among PLHIV on ART participating in a nationally representative survey.

methodsWe analyzed data from the Tanzania HIV Impact Survey (THIS) 2022-2023 among PLHIV aged 15 years and older. The analysis included 1,485 PLHIV on ART with VL results. Laboratory-based testing was conducted for qualitative detection of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs and quantitative evaluation of VL. Three VL levels were computed for the analyses: undetectable VL (<50 copies/mL); LLV (50-999 copies/mL); and VL non-suppression (≥1000 copies/mL). Unweighted absolute numbers and weighted percentages were reported for descriptive analysis. We used modified Poisson regression models to examine separately the prevalence and factors associated with LLV and VL non-suppression. We reported adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR), 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant.

resultsOverall, 76% of PLHIV in Tanzania had undetectable VL, 18% had LLV, and 6% had VL non-suppression. Among PLHIV with either LLV or undetectable VL, 19.5% had LLV and after multivariable adjustment, absence of ARV drugs detected in blood was the only factor significantly associated with LLV. Additionally, among PLHIV with either VL non-suppression or undetectable VL, 7.2% had VL non-suppression and after multivariable adjustment, absence of ARV drugs detected in blood and alcohol use were associated with VL non-suppression.

conclusionIn this nationally representative analysis of PLHIV in Tanzania, most people had undetectable viral load, while LLV was common and VL non-suppression was less frequent. Absence of ARV drugs detected in blood was associated with both LLV and VL non-suppression, underscoring the importance of recent ART exposure. These findings suggested that LLV warranted programmatic attention alongside VL non-suppression to support sustained viral suppression.

Indexed as

Anti-HIV AgentsHIV InfectionsViral LoadViremiaAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrevalenceTanzaniaYoung AdultAnti-HIV Agents

Identifiers

PMID41886425
PMCPMC13020825

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