Two-thirds of the >38 million people with HIV/AIDS reside in Sub-Saharan Africa. Access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in less wealthy nations is expanding quickly, creating an urgent need to understand those factors influencing adherence, a key determinant of ongoing efficacy of ART, so that the creation and spread of medication-resistant virus is limited. The proposed research team has identified suboptimal adherence among 29% of clinic attendees taking ART for > 6 months in Moshi Tanzania, while documenting lack of virologic suppression in 32% and antiretroviral drug resistance in 10%. We propose to follow 750 newly diagnosed HIV+ persons, 500 previously diagnosed HIV+ persons and 750 HIV-negative persons in over 3 years in this region. The newly diagnosed HIV+ and HIV- cohorts will be obtained through consecutive sampling in a Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) site and the on-going HIV+ cohort will be similarly drawn from the Infectious Disease Clinic (IDC) in the tertiary care medical center 5 miles away. This research team has a track record of successful past and ongoing research at both the VCT and the IDC sites. Baseline data we will used to examine associations between psychosocial (including trauma, mental health symptomatology, coping strategies and life events), sociodemographic, and economic factors and health status, adherence to ART, and health promotion and high risk activities. Longitudinal analyses will examine causal relationships between changes in the independent and dependent variables. Results will lead to the creation of more effective prevention and care models for the area and other similar areas. Studying the population of ART naive patients in a resource poor setting provides a unique window of opportunity to gather data designed to increase our understanding of underlying variables associated with maladherence and risk behaviors. Psychosocial determinants are a unique strength of this proposal. The study will result in a minimum of 7 peer reviewed articles and dissemination of findings at annual national (US and Tanzanian) and international AIDS, Public Health and Mental Health conferences, including the annual Tanzania national AIDS conference. A policy related report will be disseminated to national and international leaders. ? ? ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01MH078756-01A1
Application #
7285771
Study Section
Behavioral and Social Consequences of HIV/AIDS Study Section (BSCH)
Program Officer
Pequegnat, Willo
Project Start
2007-09-06
Project End
2012-07-31
Budget Start
2007-09-06
Budget End
2008-07-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2007
Total Cost
$649,145
Indirect Cost
Name
Duke University
Department
Administration
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
044387793
City
Durham
State
NC
Country
United States
Zip Code
27705
Reddy, Elizabeth A; Agala, Chris Bernard; Maro, Venance P et al. (2016) Test site predicts HIV care linkage and antiretroviral therapy initiation: a prospective 3.5 year cohort study of HIV-positive testers in northern Tanzania. BMC Infect Dis 16:497
Ostermann, Jan; Pence, Brian; Whetten, Kathryn et al. (2015) HIV serostatus disclosure in the treatment cascade: evidence from Northern Tanzania. AIDS Care 27 Suppl 1:59-64
Thielman, Nathan M; Ostermann, Jan; Whetten, Kathryn et al. (2014) Reduced adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected Tanzanians seeking cure from the Loliondo healer. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 65:e104-9
O'Donnell, Karen; Yao, Jia; Ostermann, Jan et al. (2014) Low rates of child testing for HIV persist in a high-risk area of East Africa. AIDS Care 26:326-31
Belenky, Nadya M; Cole, Stephen R; Pence, Brian W et al. (2014) Depressive symptoms, HIV medication adherence, and HIV clinical outcomes in Tanzania: a prospective, observational study. PLoS One 9:e95469
Ostermann, Jan; Whetten, Kathryn; Reddy, Elizabeth et al. (2014) Treatment retention and care transitions during and after the scale-up of HIV care and treatment in Northern Tanzania. AIDS Care 26:1352-8
Whetten, Kathryn; Shirey, Kristen; Pence, Brian Wells et al. (2013) Trauma history and depression predict incomplete adherence to antiretroviral therapies in a low income country. PLoS One 8:e74771
Pence, Brian W; Whetten, Kathryn; Shirey, Kristen G et al. (2013) Factors associated with change in sexual transmission risk behavior over 3 years among HIV-infected patients in Tanzania. PLoS One 8:e82974
Pence, Brian W; Shirey, Kristen; Whetten, Kathryn et al. (2012) Prevalence of psychological trauma and association with current health and functioning in a sample of HIV-infected and HIV-uninfected Tanzanian adults. PLoS One 7:e36304