Browsing by Author "Ahonkhai, Aima A."

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    High Rates of Viral Suppression and Care Retention among Youth Born Outside of the United States with Perinatally Acquired HIV
    (Wolters Kluwer, 2022-12) Desai, Neerav; Jenkins, Cathy A.; Zanoni, Brian; Nmoh, Ashley; Patel, Nehali; Shepherd, Bryan E.; Hussen, Sophia; Doraivelu, Kamini; Pierce, Leslie; Carlucci, James G.; Ahonkhai, Aima A.; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background: Youth born outside of the US with perinatally acquired HIV infection (YBoUS-PHIV) account for most children living with HIV in the US, but there are few data characterizing their care outcomes. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of YBoUS-PHIV receiving care across 3 HIV clinics in the Southeastern US between October 2018 and 2019. Primary outcomes were retention in care and viral suppression defined as (1) proportion of suppressed viral loads (VLs) and (2) having all VLs suppressed (definition 1 presented in the abstract). Primary predictors were age, adoption and disclosure status (full, partial and none/unknown). Multivariable logistic regression and χ 2 tests were used to test for associations with care outcomes. Analysis of disclosure status was restricted to youth greater than or equal to 12 years. Results: The cohort included 111 YBoUS-PHIV. Median age was 14 years (interquartile range, 12-18), 59% were female, and 79% were international adoptees. Overall, 84% of patients were retained in care, and 88% were virally suppressed at each VL measurement. Adopted youth were more likely to be virally suppressed than nonadopted youth [odds ratio (OR), 7.08; P < 0.01] although the association was not statistically significant in adjusted analysis (adjusted OR, 4.26; P = 0.07). Neither age nor adoption status was significantly associated with retention. Among 89 patients greater than or equal to 12 years, 74% were fully disclosed of their HIV status, 12% were partially disclosed, and 13% had not started the disclosure process. There was no significant difference in retention or viral suppression by disclosure status. Conclusions: YBoUS-PHIV achieved high rates of retention and viral suppression. Adopted youth may be more likely to achieve viral suppression which may reflect the need for tailored interventions for nonadopted youth.
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    Poor retention and care-related sex disparities among youth living with HIV in rural Mozambique
    (Public Library of Science, 2021-05-21) Ahonkhai, Aima A.; Aliyu, Muktar H.; Audet, Carolyn M.; Bravo, Magdalena; Simmons, Melynda; Claquin, Gael; Memiah, Peter; Fernando, Anibal N.; Carlucci, James G.; Shepherd, Bryan E.; Van Rompaey, Sara; Yu, Zhihong; Gong, Wu; Vermund, Sten H.; Wester, C. William; Pediatrics, School of Medicine
    Background: There are few studies that characterize sex-related differences in HIV outcomes among adolescents and young adults (AYA) 15-24 years of age. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among AYA who enrolled in a comprehensive HIV program in Mozambique between 2012-2016. We assessed patients by sex and pregnancy/lactation status, comparing time to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation using Cox proportional hazard models. We employed multivariable logistic regression to investigate pre- and post-ART retention. Patients were defined as 'retained pre-ART' if they attended at least 3 of 4 required visits or started ART in the 6 months after enrollment, and 'retained post-ART' if they had any ART pickup or clinical visit during the last 90 days of the one-year follow-up period. Results: Of 47,702 patients in the cohort, 81% (n = 38,511) were female and 19% (n = 9,191) were male. Of the females, 57% (n = 21,770) were non-pregnant and non-lactating (NPNL) and 43% (n = 16,741) were pregnant or lactating (PL). PL (aHR 2.64, 95%CI:2.47-2.81) and NPNL females (aHR 1.36, 95%CI:1.30-1.42) were more likely to initiate ART than males. PL females had higher odds of pre-ART retention in care (aOR 3.56, 95%CI: 3.30-3.84), as did NPNL females (aOR 1.71, 95%CI: 1.62-1.81), compared to males. This was also true for retention post-ART initiation, with higher odds for both PL (aOR 1.78, 95%CI:1.63-1.94) and NPNL females (aOR 1.50, 95%CI:1.35-1.65) compared to males. Conclusions: PL females were most likely to initiate ART and remain in care post-ART in this AYA cohort, likely reflecting expansion of Option B+. Despite pregnancy and policy driven factors, we observed important sex-related disparities in this cohort. NPNL females were more likely to initiate ART and be retained in care before and after ART initiation than males. These data suggest that young males need targeted interventions to improve these important care continuum outcomes.