Correlates of viral suppression among HIV-infected men who have sex with men and transgender women in Lima, Peru

• Main Authors: Rich, Katherine M., Valencia Huamaní, Javier, Kiani, Sara N., Cabello, Robinson, Elish, Paul, Florez Arce, Jorge, Pizzicato, Lia N., Soria, Jaime, Wickersham, Jeffrey A., Sanchez, Jorge, Altice, Frederick L.
• Format: Article
• Published: Taylor & Francis 2018
• Subjects: R Medicine
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/20891/; https://doi.org/10.1080/09540121.2018.1476657

In Peru, HIV is concentrated among men who have sex with men (MSM) and transgender women (TGW). Between June 2015 and August 2016, 591 HIV-positive MSM and TGW were recruited at five clinical care sites in Lima, Peru. We found that 82.4% of the participants had achieved viral suppression (VS; VL < 200) and 73.6% had achieved maximal viral suppression (MVS; VL < 50). Multivariable modeling indicated that patients reporting transportation as a barrier to HIV care were less likely to achieve VS (aOR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.30–0.75) and MVS (aOR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.37–0.84). Alcohol use disorders were negatively associated with MVS (aOR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.30–0.75) and age was positively associated with achieving MVS (aOR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.04– 1.59). These findings underscore the need for more accessible HIV care with integrated behavioral health services in Lima, Peru.