Two or more significant life-events in 6-months are associated with lower rates of HIV treatment and virologic suppression among youth with HIV in Uganda and Kenya

Figures & data

Table 1. Participant demographics, overall and by gender.

Demographics	All (n=995)		Females (n=826)		Males (n=169)
	n	%	n	%	N	%
Age
15–17	155	15.6%	103	12.5%	52	30.8%
18–20	279	28.0%	252	30.5%	27	16.0%
21–22	252	25.3%	216	26.2%	36	21.3%
23–24	309	31.1%	255	30.9%	54	32.0%
Marital status
Single never married	427	42.9%	304	36.8%	123	72.8%
Married monogamous	387	38.9%	350	42.4%	37	21.9%
Widowed	10	1.0%	10	1.2%	0	0.0%
Divorced	114	11.5%	105	12.7%	9	5.3%
Polygamous	57	5.7%	57	6.9%	0	0.0%
Highest education
No school	39	3.9%	30	3.6%	9	5.3%
Part of/or all primary	643	64.6%	533	64.5%	110	65.1%
Part of/or all secondary	76	7.6%	38	4.6%	38	22.5%
Part of/or all tertiary	62	6.2%	50	6.1%	12	7.1%
Occupation/School status
Employed	360	36.2%	290	35.1%	70	41.4%
In School	186	18.7%	120	14.5%	66	39.1%
Unemployed	449	45.1%	416	50.4%	33	19.5%
Parent
No	420	42.2%	300	36.3%	120	71.0%
Yes	575	57.8%	526	63.7%	49	29.0%
Alcohol use (any)
No	808	81.2%	684	82.8%	124	73.4%
Yes	187	18.8%	142	17.2%	45	26.6%
HIV disclosure
To family
No	250	25.1%	215	26.0%	35	20.7%
Yes	745	74.9%	611	74.0%	134	79.3%
To partner
No	490	49.2%	370	44.8%	120	71.0%
Yes	505	50.8%	456	55.2%	49	29.0%
To friends
No	674	67.7%	572	69.2%	102	60.4%
Yes	321	32.3%	254	30.8%	67	39.6%
ART status
Starting ART today	179	18.0%	150	18.2%	29	17.2%
Started ART <6 months	218	21.9%	191	23.1%	27	16.0%
ART>6mon (re-engaging)	36	3.6%	30	3.6%	6	3.6%
ART>6mon (engaged)	562	56.5%	455	55.1%	107	63.3%
HIV viral suppression
Suppressed (<400 copies/mL)	693	69.7%	592	71.7%	101	59.8%

Figure 1. Recent life-events frequency overall and by sex.

Figure 2. Mean number of life-events by subgroup; A: Age, B: ART status.

Figure 3. Predictor bivariate odds ratios for HIV viral suppression (<400 copies).

Table 2. Multivariable predictors of HIV viral suppression among (A) All participants, (B) HIV viral suppression among participants on ART for 6+ months and engaged in HIV care, and (C) Being on ART for 6+ months at study baseline.

A. Predictors of HIV viral suppression among all participants
Predictor	Adjusted odds ratio	p-value	95% CI Low – High
Two plus life-events	0.61	0.003	0.45	0.85
Use alcohol	0.61	0.007	0.43	0.87
Disclose HIV to family	1.86	0.002	1.26	2.74
Disclose HIV to partner	2.39	0.000	1.62	3.53
Parent	1.76	0.003	1.22	2.55
Single	1.61	0.000	1.26	2.08
B. Predictors of HIV viral suppression among participants on ART for 6+ months and engaged in HIV care
Predictor	Adjusted odds ratio	p-value	95% CI Low – High
Age 17–19 years	0.52	0.002	0.35	0.79
Disclose HIV to partner	2.66	0.000	1.96	3.61
C. Predictors of ART duration > 6 months at Baseline
Predictor	Adjusted odds ratio	p-value	95% CI Low – High
Two plus life-events	0.46	0.000	0.36	0.57
Use alcohol	0.44	0.000	0.31	0.64
Disclose HIV to family	3.21	0.000	2.25	4.57
Disclose HIV to friends	1.45	0.000	1.19	1.77
Single	1.55	0.021	1.07	2.25

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, TR, upon reasonable request.