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Background Alcohol use disorder in people living with the human immunodeficiency virus is an important public health problem associated with high rates of HIV infection and lower antiretroviral treatment adherence. However, little is known about the prevalence of alcohol use disorders and its impact on ART adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the magnitude of alcohol use disorder and its impact on medication adherence among PLWHA attending the ART clinic. Methods A hospital based cross sectional study design was conducted at University of Gondar Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (UOGCSH) ART clinic from September 30, 2023 to February 30, 2024. The World Health Organization’s Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tool (AUDIT) was utilized to assess alcohol use disorder. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were employed to investigate the relationship between AUDs and other variables. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 26, with a significance level set at P < 0.05. Results The overall prevalence of AUDs was 38.8%, with hazardous use, harmful use, and alcohol dependence accounting for 24.6%, 6.1%, and 8.1% of the total, respectively. In addition, 67.8% of the participants had medication adherence above 95%. Factors associated with alcohol use disorder were male AOR = 1.52; 95% CI (1.01, 2.30), cigarette smoking AOR = 2.384, 95% CI (1.183, 4.80), educational status AOR = 1.96, 95% CI (1.016, 3.764), and age 45–57 years AOR = 3.05, CI (1.587, 5.871). In present study, compared with social drinkers, harmful drinkers and alcohol dependents showed low medication adherence under 95% (AOR = 4.08 and AOR = 8.89, respectively). Conclusion The study reveals a high prevalence of alcohol use and dependence in PLWHA, underscoring the need for effective detection and intervention strategies particularly for males, cigarette smoker, and age between 54 and 75 years in healthcare and community settings. Alcohol use is strongly associated with poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Individuals with hazardous alcohol use are four times more likely to have low adherence, while alcohol-dependent individuals are nearly nine times more likely to have low adherence compared to social drinkers.

This study describes the results of an online social support intervention, called “Thrive with Me” (TWM), to improve antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. HIV-positive gay or bisexually-identified men self-reporting imperfect ART adherence in the past month were randomized to receive usual care ( n  = 57) or the eight-week TWM intervention ( n  = 67). Self-reported ART outcome measures (0–100 % in the past month) were collected at baseline, post-intervention, and 1-month follow-up. Follow-up assessment completion rate was 90 %. Participants rated (1–7 scale) the intervention high in information and system quality and overall satisfaction (Means ≥ 5.0). The intervention showed modest effects for the overall sample. However, among current drug-using participants, the TWM (vs. Control) group reported significantly higher overall ART adherence (90.1 vs. 57.5 % at follow-up; difference = 31.1, p  = 0.02) and ART taken correctly with food (81.6 vs. 55.7 % at follow-up; difference = 47.9, p  = 0.01). The TWM intervention appeared feasible to implement, acceptable to users, and demonstrated greatest benefits for current drug users.

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is key to achieving viral load suppression and ending the HIV epidemic but monitoring and supporting adherence using current interventions is challenging. We assessed the feasibility, acceptability and appropriateness of MedViewer (MV), a novel intervention that provides real-time adherence feedback for patients and providers using infra-red matrix-assisted laser desorption electrospray ionization (IR-MALDESI) for mass spectrometry imaging of daily ART concentrations in patients’ hair. We used mixed methods to feasibility test MV at a busy Infectious Diseases (ID) clinic, enrolling 16 providers and 36 patients. Providers underwent standardized training; patients and providers watched an 8-min informational video about MV. We collected patient and provider data at baseline and within 24 h of clinic visits and, with patients, approximately 1 month after clinic visits. MedViewer was feasible, liked by patients and providers, and perceived to help facilitate adherence conversations and motivate patients to improve adherence. Trial Registration: NCT04232540.

Background Very little is known about the barriers and facilitators to antiretroviral therapy (ART) access and adherence among older Africans. Most studies on ART have focused on individuals who are 15–49 years of age. Methods We used in-depth interviews with 40 persons living with HIV, aged 50 to 96 years, who had either initiated ART ( n  = 26) or were waiting to initiate ART ( n  = 14), to explore barriers and facilitators to ART access and adherence in rural Uganda. Results Guided by the Andersen Behavior Model, thematic content analysis highlighted 21 primary factors related to environment, patient and health behavior. Nine of the factors were common to both access and adherence, the remaining 12 were evenly split between access and adherence. Transportation costs, food insecurity, and healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviors were key barriers. Conclusions These barriers were similar to those outlined for younger populations in other studies, but were compounded by age. Despite barriers, either due to the exceptional nature of HIV care or overreporting, both ART access and self-reported adherence were better than expected. Older persons living with HIV highlighted health care needs for non-HIV-related illnesses, suggesting while HIV care is adequate, care for the ailments of “old age” is lagging.

Introduction: Treatment adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) is critical in reducing morbidity, mortality, and improving the survival in HIV patients. ART is a life-long commitment, and the variety of factors can influence treatment adherence. We studied the factors affecting treatment adherence in the private sector and public sector outdoor clinic in Ahmedabad, India. The primary objective of this study is to compare the level of adherence and factors that influence adherence to ART in patients attending government run free ART program and private setup. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 8 weeks among HIV-infected patients who were receiving ART from private clinic and free ART center from July 2019 to September 2019. We enrolled all consecutive patients >18 years of age attending both clinics. Statistical analysis was carried out using the SPSS software version 25.0. Multiple logistic regression was used to identify the factors that were independently associated with adherence to ART. Results: The study enrolled 306 patients, 151 (49.34%) from the outpatient department of private hospital, and 155 (50.65%) from the free ART center. Patients attending private clinics were more likely to have been diagnosed with HIV since ≥10 years compared to free ART center. Higher opportunistic infection rates were found in free ART center (64.51%). Treatment adherence was significantly lower in the patients attending free ART center (P = 0.004). Patients taking concomitant medications for other comorbid conditions (≥4 pills/day) were more likely to exhibit inadequate adherence ([odds ratio] 1.216, 95% confidence interval 1.0171-1.454). Univariate analysis showed that age, education, habits of alcohol, tobacco, number of pills, and duration of disease played a significant role in predicting adherence to ART (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Patients attending private clinic are surviving longer with HIV diagnosis, have fewer opportunistic infections, and have better treatment adherence compared to free ART clinic.

We used latent class analysis to identify substance use patterns for 1363 women living with HIV in Canada and assessed associations with socio-economic marginalization, violence, and sub-optimal adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). A six-class model was identified consisting of: abstainers (26.3%), Tobacco Users (8.81%), Alcohol Users (31.9%), ‘Socially Acceptable’ Poly-substance Users (13.9%), Illicit Poly-substance Users (9.81%) and Illicit Poly-substance Users of All Types (9.27%). Multinomial logistic regression showed that women experiencing recent violence had significantly higher odds of membership in all substance use latent classes, relative to Abstainers, while those reporting sub-optimal cART adherence had higher odds of being members of the poly-substance use classes only. Factors significantly associated with Illicit Poly-substance Users of All Types were sexual minority status, lower income, and lower resiliency. Findings underline a need for increased social and structural supports for women who use substances to support them in leading safe and healthy lives with HIV.

Background Depression consistently predicts nonadherence to human immunodeficiency virus antiretroviral therapy, but which aspects of depression are most influential are unknown. Such knowledge could inform assessments of adherence readiness and the type of depression treatment to utilize. Purpose We examined how depression severity, symptom type, and change over time relate to adherence. Methods Microelectronic adherence and self-reported depression data from 1,374 participants across merged studies were examined with cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Depression variables included a continuous measure, categorical measure of severity, cognitive and vegetative subscales, and individual symptoms. Results At baseline, mean adherence was 69%, and 25% had mild/moderate and 18% had severe depression. In cross-sectional multivariate analyses, continuous depression, cognitive depressive symptoms, and severe depression were associated with lower adherence. In longitudinal analysis, reductions in both continuous and categorical depression predicted increased adherence. Conclusions The relationship between global continuous depression and nonadherence was statistically significant, but relatively weak compared to that of cognitive depressive symptoms and severe depression, which appear to pose strong challenges to adherence and call for the need for early detection and treatment of depression.

Food insecurity (FI), low social support, and low health-related quality of life (HRQoL) are associated with self-reported nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among postpartum women, but these relationships have not been evaluated using objective adherence indicators. Hair samples were therefore analyzed among 83 postpartum Kenyan women living with HIV on efavirenz and nevirapine ART drug regimens in an observational cohort (NCT02974972). FI (0–27), social support (0–40), and HRQoL (8–40) in the prior month were also assessed. In multivariable models, each point increase in FI and decrease in HRQoL were associated with a 45.1% (95% CI: −64.3%, −15.6%) and 10.5% decrease (95% CI: 1.0%, 22.1%) in hair ART drug concentrations respectively, when social support was held constant. A significant interaction between social support and FI (β = 0.02, p = 0.017) indicated that greater social support was predicted to mitigate the negative impacts of FI on ART adherence. Addressing these modifiable barriers could improve ART adherence during this critical period.

HIV disproportionately impacts young men who have sex with men (YMSM) who experience disparities across the HIV care continuum. Addressing antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among YMSM is an urgent public health priority. Technology-based interventions-particularly mobile health platforms-can provide tailored adherence interventions and allow YMSM to engage and connect with others. The objective of this study was to describe the development of AllyQuest, a novel, theoretically-based, smartphone app designed to improve engagement in care and ART adherence and social support among HIV-positive YMSM. AllyQuest was built on an established platform for patient engagement that embeds social networking and fundamental game mechanics, such as challenges, points, and rewards. A medication tracker provides reminders to promote ART adherence via personalized adherence strategies that are user and context specific; a calendar allows for reflection on adherence over time. After iterative development with input from two youth advisory boards, usability testing was conducted to assess app functionality, comprehension of the educational content, use of intervention features, and overall impressions of app relevance and appeal. A 28-day pilot trial was conducted with 20 HIV+ YMSM to evaluate intervention feasibility and acceptability. Mean age of participants was 21.8 years (range 19-24), and 95% (19/20) of the participants were nonwhite. The mean time of app use was 158.4 min (SD 114.1), with a range of 13 to 441 min. There was a mean of 21.2 days of use (out of a total possible 28 days). There were 222 posts to the daily discussion social wall. Feasibility and acceptability ratings were high. Overall, participants found the app easy to use and navigate, not intrusive, and had few reported technical issues. Higher levels of app usage were positively correlated with HIV self-management outcomes, and there was a statistically significant (P<.05) positive association between the number of days logged into the app and knowledge and confidence in ability to reliably take HIV medications. AllyQuest represents a new, highly scalable solution that is well-suited to meet the specific prevention and care needs of HIV+ YMSM. The development of this intervention is both timely and vital, given the urgency of the ongoing HIV epidemic among YMSM.

Background Antiretroviral adherence is essential to HIV treatment efficacy. Various self-reported measures are commonly used for assessing antiretroviral adherence. Limited data are available regarding the validity of those self-reported measures in comparison with long-term objective biomarkers of adherence measures such as hair measures. Methods Self-reported adherence (frequency, percentage, and visual analog scale [VAS]) and hair tenofovir concentration were evaluated at a single time point from 268 people living with HIV in China. The responses to each of three self-reported measures were converted into percentage and then dichotomized as “optimal” (100%) vs. “suboptimal” (less than 100%) adherence. Two composite adherence scores (CAS) were created from the three self-reported measures: (1) an overall adherence was the average percentage of the three self-reported measures; (2) responses were termed optimal adherence if participants reporting optimal adherence in all three self-reported measures, while were termed suboptimal adherence. Hair tenofovir concentration was also dichotomized as “optimal” (above the limit of quantitation, 36 pg/mg) vs. “suboptimal” adherence (blow 36 pg/mg). Spearman correlation, kappa statistics, and logistic regression analysis were used to calculate the correlations, agreements, and predictions of self-reported measures with hair measure, respectively. Results Overall adherence, but any of the three self-reported adherence, was correlated with hair tenofovir concentration ( r  = 0.13, p  < 0.05). Self-reported optimal adherence in VAS and CAS measures were agreed with and predicted optimal adherence assessed by hair measure (Kappa = 0.107, adjusted OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.03–3.45; Kappa = 0.109, adjusted OR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.02–3.18; all p  < 0.05, respectively). Conclusion VAS may be a good individual self-reported measure for antiretroviral adherence, and CAS may be a good composite self-reported measure for antiretroviral adherence.