scholarly journals Targeted Pregnancy and Human Immunodeficiency Virus Prevention Risk-Reduction Counseling for Young Women: Lessons Learned from Biomedical Prevention Trials

2018 ◽  
Vol 218 (11) ◽  
pp. 1759-1766 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gita Ramjee ◽  
Reshmi Dassaye ◽  
Tarylee Reddy ◽  
Handan Wand

Abstract Background Women enrolled in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention efficacy trials receive counseling on prevention of HIV, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and pregnancy during every visit. Incident pregnancy has an impact on efficacy outcomes. Incidence rates of pregnancy and HIV/STIs among women who became pregnant and associated risk factors were assessed. Methods Data from 9165 women participating in HIV prevention trials in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa from 2002–2012 were combined. Demographic and behavioral predictors of incidence pregnancy and incidence HIV and STIs were determined using Cox regression models. Results Overall pregnancy incidence was 9.6 per 100 person-year (py) (95% confidence interval [Cl], 9.1–10.3). Human immunodeficiency virus incidence among pregnant women was 5.93 per 100 py (95% Cl, 4.73–7.44). Incidence of STIs among pregnant women for Chlamydia trachomatis, Trichomonas vaginalis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae, and Treponema pallidum (syphilis) were 10.87, 7.42, 3.92, and 1.43 per 100 py, respectively. In the adjusted analyses, we observed overlapping risk factors for HIV acquisition during pregnancy, ie, young age, not married/not cohabitating, and low parity. The risk of pregnancy and HIV acquisition is more than 3 times higher among young women (<20 years of age). Conclusions We identified overlapping risk factors for pregnancy and HIV incidence, suggesting an urgent need for appropriate, targeted, individual-centred counseling for women participating in HIV prevention trials.

Author(s):  
Marie C D Stoner ◽  
Daniel Westreich ◽  
Jennifer Ahern ◽  
Jessie Edwards ◽  
F Xavier Gómez-Olivé ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Combination interventions may be an effective way to prevent human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in adolescent girls and young women. However, current studies are not designed to understand which specific interventions and combinations will be most effective. We estimate the possible impacts of interventions on a combination of factors associated with HIV. Methods We used the g-formula to model interventions on combinations of HIV risk factors to identify those that would prevent the most incident HIV infections, including low school attendance, intimate partner violence, depression, transactional sex, and age-disparate partnerships. We used data from the HIV Prevention Trials Network (HPTN) 068 study in rural South Africa from 2011 to 2017. We estimated HIV incidence under a potential intervention that reduced each risk factor and compared this to HIV incidence under the current distribution of these risk factors. Results Although many factors had strong associations with HIV, potential intervention estimates did not always suggest large reductions in HIV incidence because the prevalence of risk factors was low. When modeling combination effects, an intervention to increase schooling, decrease depression, and decease transactional sex showed the largest reduction in incident infection (risk difference, –1.4%; 95% confidence interval [CI], –2.7% to –.2%), but an intervention on only transactional sex and depression still reduced HIV incidence by –1.3% (95% CI, –2.6% to –.2%). Conclusions To achieve the largest reductions in HIV, both prevalence of the risk factor and strength of association with HIV must be considered. Additionally, intervening on more risk factors may not necessarily result in larger reductions in HIV incidence.


Author(s):  
Gideon Loevinsohn ◽  
Godfrey Kigozi ◽  
Joseph Kagaayi ◽  
Maria J Wawer ◽  
Fred Nalugoda ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The efficacy of voluntary male medical circumcision (VMMC) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention in men was demonstrated in 3 randomized trials. This led to the adoption of VMMC as an integral component of the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) combination HIV prevention program in sub-Saharan Africa. However, evidence on the individual-level effectiveness of VMMC programs in real-world, programmatic settings is limited. Methods A cohort of initially uncircumcised, non-Muslim, HIV-uninfected men in the Rakai Community Cohort Study in Uganda was followed between 2009 and 2016 during VMMC scale-up. Self-reported VMMC status was collected and HIV tests performed at surveys conducted every 18 months. Multivariable Poisson regression was used to estimate the incidence rate ratio (IRR) of HIV acquisition in newly circumcised vs uncircumcised men. Results A total of 3916 non-Muslim men were followed for 17 088 person-years (PY). There were 1338 newly reported VMMCs (9.8/100 PY). Over the study period, the median age of men adopting VMMC declined from 28 years (interquartile range [IQR], 21–35 years) to 22 years (IQR, 18–29 years) (P for trend < .001). HIV incidence was 0.40/100 PY (20/4992.8 PY) among newly circumcised men and 0.98/100 PY (118/12 095.1 PY) among uncircumcised men with an adjusted IRR of 0.47 (95% confidence interval, .28–.78). The effectiveness of VMMC was sustained with increasing time from surgery and was similar across age groups and calendar time. Conclusions VMMC programs are highly effective in preventing HIV acquisition in men. The observed effectiveness is consistent with efficacy in clinical trials and supports current recommendations that VMMC is a key component of programs to reduce HIV incidence.


2019 ◽  
Vol 70 (3) ◽  
pp. 395-403 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Fatti ◽  
Ashraf Grimwood ◽  
Jean B Nachega ◽  
Jenna A Nelson ◽  
Kelsea LaSorda ◽  
...  

Abstract Background There have been concerns about reduced adherence and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) virological suppression (VS) among clinically well people initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) with high pre-ART CD4 cell counts. We compared virological outcomes by pre-ART CD4 count, where universal ART initiation was provided in the HIV Prevention Trials Network 071 (PopART) trial in South Africa prior to routine national and international implementation. Methods This prospective cohort study included adults initiating ART at facilities providing universal ART since January 2014. VS (<400 copies/mL), confirmed virological failure (VF) (2 consecutive viral loads >1000 copies/mL), and viral rebound were compared between participants in strata of baseline CD4 cell count. Results The sample included 1901 participants. VS was ≥94% among participants with baseline CD4 count ≥500 cells/µL at all 6-month intervals to 30 months. The risk of an elevated viral load (≥400 copies/mL) was independently lower among participants with baseline CD4 count ≥500 cells/µL (3.3%) compared to those with CD4 count 200–499 cells/µL (9.2%) between months 18 and 30 (adjusted relative risk, 0.30 [95% confidence interval, .12–.74]; P = .010). The incidence rate of VF was 7.0, 2.0, and 0.5 per 100 person-years among participants with baseline CD4 count <200, 200–499, and ≥500 cells/µL, respectively (P < .0001). VF was independently lower among participants with baseline CD4 count ≥500 cells/µL (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.23; P = .045) and 3-fold higher among those with baseline CD4 count <200 cells/µL (aHR, 3.49; P < .0001). Conclusions Despite previous concerns, participants initiating ART with CD4 counts ≥500 cells/µL had very good virological outcomes, being better than those with CD4 counts 200–499 cells/µL. Clinical Trials Registration NCT01900977.


2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (12) ◽  
pp. e98-e100 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jillian Pintye ◽  
Benson Singa ◽  
Kennedy Wanyonyi ◽  
Janet Itindi ◽  
John Kinuthia ◽  
...  

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