Use of antiretroviral treatment among people living with HIV in Australia between 1997 and 2012. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Power, J.; Lyons, A.; Brown, G.; Dowsett, G. W.; Lucke, J.
• Is Part Of: AIDS care. Volume 29:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 66
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Antiretroviral therapy -- antiretroviral therapy non-use -- Australia -- antiretroviral therapy delayed uptake; AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Care -- Periodicals; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; 362.1969792
• DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2016.1198751
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-0121

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Current international targets aim for 90% of people diagnosed with HIV to be on antiretroviral treatment (ART). This paper aims to identify sociodemographic and attitudinal factors associated with ART non-use over time in three samples of Australian people living with HIV (PLHIV). Data for this paper were derived from an Australian cross-sectional survey of PLHIV that was repeated at three different time points: 1997, 2003, and 2012. There were approximately 1000 respondents to each survey ( n = 3042 in total). The survey included approximately 250 items related broadly to health and well-being, ART use, and attitudes towards ART use. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used. While the proportion of participants using ART increased between 1997 and 2012 (78.8–87.6%, p < .001), there was a decrease between 1997 and 2003 to 70.6% ( p < .001). Factors linked to ART non-use remained steady over those 15 years. In all cohorts, people less likely to be using ART were younger and had a more recent diagnosis of HIV. In 2003 and 2012, people in full-time employment were less likely to be using ART, while those whose main source of income was a pension or social security were more likely to be using ART. Multivariate models showed that, at each time point, a belief in the health benefits of delayed ART uptake was associated with non-use. These findings suggest that there may be barriers to ART uptake that have persisted over time despite changes to clinical guidelines that now encourage early uptake.