Adherence, sexual risk, and viral load in HIV-infected women prescribed antiretroviral therapy.

Content Provider	Europe PMC
Author	Holstad, Marcia McDonnell Dilorio, Colleen McCarty, Frances
Copyright Year	2011
Abstract	Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a connection between adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and use of risk reduction behaviors (RRB) in HIV-infected women who were prescribed antiretroviral therapy. The sample consisted of 193 predominately African American women with an average age of 44 who had been on ARV for approximately 9 years and had low annual incomes. All women were participating in a behavioral clinical trial focused on these dual outcomes. Using a risk index developed for this study, we examined the relationship of a composite of risk behaviors to electronically measured and self-reported adherence over the approximately 13-month study period. Women were categorized based on levels of adherence and risky behaviors, and we sought to determine if these classifications were associated with clinical outcomes of HIV viral load and CD4 counts. High levels of adherence were correlated with low risk behaviors (abstinence, consistent use of condoms, etc.). Those classified as high adherence and low-risk behavior (HALR) as well as those classified as high adherence and high-risk behavior (HAHR) had lower mean viral loads and higher CD4 counts than those in the other categories. Women in the low adherence and high-risk category (LAHR) had detectable viral loads and the lowest CD4 counts and are at higher risk for transmitting HIV to partners and unborn children. Our findings underscore the importance of addressing adherence to both ART and RRB in HIV clinical settings to improve clinical outcomes and reduce HIV transmission.
Related Links	https://europepmc.org/backend/ptpmcrender.fcgi?accid=PMC3125575&blobtype=pdf
Page Count	8
ISSN	10872914
Volume Number	25
DOI	10.1089/apc.2010.0331
PubMed Central reference number	PMC3125575
Issue Number	7
PubMed reference number	21663541
Journal	AIDS Patient Care and STDs [AIDS Patient Care STDS]
e-ISSN	15577449
Language	English
Publisher	Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Publisher Date	2011-06-11
Publisher Place	USA
Access Restriction	Open
Rights License	Copyright 2011, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Infectious Diseases Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health