OBJECTIVES: Linkage to care after HIV diagnosis remains underinvestigated in Europe, yet delays in linkage to care are an important obstacle to controlling the HIV epidemic. The Test and Keep in Care (TAK) project aims to determine the prevalence of HIV-positive persons who are lost or late to care and factors associated with this. METHODS: Data from community-based voluntary counselling and testing that occurred in 2010-2011 were linked with data from HIV clinics using unique test numbers. Persons not registered in HIV clinics were considered lost to care (LTC). For statistical analysis, nonparametric tests were used for comparison, and a multivariable logistic regression model was developed that included all variables with P<0.1 from the univariable models. RESULTS: A total of 110 persons were diagnosed as HIV-positive: 91% lived in central Poland, 5% were female and 71% were men who have sex with men (MSM). Forty-seven (42%) persons were LTC, seven of whom did not collect their enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test result. Of those who registered, 75% registered within 1 month from HIV diagnosis, and 54% were late presenters. LTC individuals were more likely to have heterosexual or bisexual orientation, to have >20 sexual partners, to not be in a relationship with an HIV-positive partner, to not use condoms, and to be taking their first HIV test. In a logistic regression model, after adjusting for these factors, using condoms in a stable relationship decreased the odds of LTC by 72% (odds ratio 0.28; confidence interval 0.11-0.67). CONCLUSIONS: Integration into care after HIV diagnosis requires improvement. Our results suggest that broadening awareness and counselling about sexual risks may have a positive impact.
OBJECTIVES: Linkage to care after HIV diagnosis remains underinvestigated in Europe, yet delays in linkage to care are an important obstacle to controlling the HIV epidemic. The Test and Keep in Care (TAK) project aims to determine the prevalence of HIV-positive persons who are lost or late to care and factors associated with this. METHODS: Data from community-based voluntary counselling and testing that occurred in 2010-2011 were linked with data from HIV clinics using unique test numbers. Persons not registered in HIV clinics were considered lost to care (LTC). For statistical analysis, nonparametric tests were used for comparison, and a multivariable logistic regression model was developed that included all variables with P<0.1 from the univariable models. RESULTS: A total of 110 persons were diagnosed as HIV-positive: 91% lived in central Poland, 5% were female and 71% were men who have sex with men (MSM). Forty-seven (42%) persons were LTC, seven of whom did not collect their enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) test result. Of those who registered, 75% registered within 1 month from HIV diagnosis, and 54% were late presenters. LTC individuals were more likely to have heterosexual or bisexual orientation, to have >20 sexual partners, to not be in a relationship with an HIV-positive partner, to not use condoms, and to be taking their first HIV test. In a logistic regression model, after adjusting for these factors, using condoms in a stable relationship decreased the odds of LTC by 72% (odds ratio 0.28; confidence interval 0.11-0.67). CONCLUSIONS: Integration into care after HIV diagnosis requires improvement. Our results suggest that broadening awareness and counselling about sexual risks may have a positive impact.
Authors: Justyna D Kowalska; Grzegorz Wójcik; Jakub Rutkowski; Magdalena Ankiersztejn-Bartczak; Ewa Siewaszewicz Journal: PLoS One Date: 2017-11-13 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Dorthe Raben; Ann Kathleen Sullivan; Amanda Mocroft; Galyna Kutsyna; Vesna Hadžiosmanović; Anna Vassilenko; Nikoloz Chkhartisvili; Viktar Mitsura; Court Pedersen; Jane Anderson; Josip Begovac; Ulrik Bak Dragsted; Barbara Bertisch; Anna Grzeszczuk; Jane Minton; Valentina Coca Necsoi; Maria Kitchen; Faiza Ajana; Anton Sokhan; Laura Comi; Paymaneh Farazmand; Dragica Pesut; Stephane De Wit; José Maria Gatell; Brian Gazzard; Antonella d'Arminio Monforte; Jürgen Kurt Rockstroh; Yazdan Yazdanpanah; Karen Champenois; Marie Louise Jakobsen; Jens Dilling Lundgren Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-08-13 Impact factor: 3.240