Association between HIV-stigma and antiretroviral therapy adherence among adults living with HIV: Baseline findings from the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial in Zambia and South Africa.

OBJECTIVES Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) leads to viral suppression for people living with HIV (PLHIV) and is critical for both individual health and reducing onward HIV transmission. HIV-stigma is a risk factor that can undermine adherence. We explored the association between HIV-stigma and self-reported ART adherence among PLHIV in 21 communities in the HPTN 071 (PopART) trial in Zambia and the Western Cape of South Africa. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of baseline data collected between 2013-2015, before the roll out of trial interventions. Questionnaires were conducted and consenting participants provided a blood sample for HIV testing. Poor adherence was defined as self-report of not currently taking ART, missing pills over the previous 7 days or stopping treatment in the previous 12 months. Stigma was categorised into three domains: community, health setting and internalised stigma. Multivariable logistic regression was used for analysis. RESULTS Among 2,020 PLHIV self-reporting ever taking ART, 1888 (93%) were included in multivariable analysis. Poor ART adherence was reported by 15.8% (n=320) of participants, 25.7% (n=519) reported experiencing community stigma, 21.5% (n=434) internalised stigma and 5.7% (n=152) health-setting stigma. PLHIV who self-reported previous experiences of community and internalised stigma more commonly reported poor ART adherence than those who did not (aOR 1.63, 95%CI 1.21 -2.19, p=0.001 and aOR 1.31, 95%CI 0.96-1.79, p=0.09). CONCLUSIONS HIV-stigma was associated with poor ART adherence. Roll-out of universal treatment will see an increasingly high proportion of PLHIV initiated on ART. Addressing HIV stigma could make an important contribution to supporting lifelong ART adherence.