Social and behavioral factors associated with failing second-line ART – results from a cohort study at the Themba Lethu Clinic, Johannesburg, South Africa

ABSTRACTPoor adherence is a main challenge to successful second-line ART in South Africa. Studies have shown that patients can re-suppress their viral load following intensive adherence counselling. We identify factors associated with failure to re-suppress on second-line ART.The study was a retrospective cohort study which included HIV-positive adults who experienced an elevated viral load ≥400 copies/ml on second-line ART between January 2013–July 2014, had completed an adherence counselling questionnaire and had a repeat viral load result recorded within 6 months of intensive adherence counselling. Log-binomial regression was used to evaluate the association between patient characteristics and social, behavioral or occupational factors and failure to suppress viral load (≥400 copies/ml).A total of 128 patients were included in the analysis, and of these 39% (n = 50) failed to re-suppress their viral load. Compared to those who suppressed, far more patients who failed to suppress reported living with fa...