Sociodemographic factors associated with recent HIV infection in Burundi

Title

Sociodemographic factors associated with recent HIV infection in Burundi

Presenter

Vincent Havyarimana

Authors

V. Havyarimana * (1), B. Kiernan (2), C.C. Akiteka (1), C. Nintezimbere (1), L. Nsabimana (1), A. Kavungerwa (3), A. Ndayizeye (4)

Institutions

(1) Population Services International Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi, (2) University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, United States, (3) US Agency for International Development Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi, (4) Programme Nationale de Lutte Contre le SIDA et les IST Burundi, Bujumbura, Burundi

BACKGROUND: In Burundi, about 82% of people living with HIV (PLHIV) are aware of their HIV status with the goal of reaching 95% by 2030. The Ministry of Health and PSI Burundi launched a real-time monitoring of recent HIV infections surveillance system using rapid tests for recent infections (RTRI) and viral load in 2021. Recent HIV infections are defined as infections acquired in the last 12 months. Results will be used to inform HIV transmission prevention strategies in Burundi.
METHODS: A descriptive, cross-sectional study in 17 HIV testing sites with a sample of 517 newly diagnosed PLHIV was carried out from July 15, 2021, to December 31, 2021. The sample was composed of 16% sex workers and 1% MSM with a mean age of all study participants of 35 (Â± 12 years old). Newly diagnosed clients were eligible to participate if they were at least 15 years old with no known previous HIV history. Venous samples were analyzed at five laboratories in Bujumbura with Asante RTRI and viral load testing. Multivariate and bivariate analyses using logistic regression were used to identify key sociodemographic characteristics associated with recent infection.
RESULTS: The results showed that 6.8% of newly diagnosed HIV infections were recent. The data showed 25% of the men who have sex with men (MSM) and 7% of female sex workers (FSW) had a recent infection compared to 6.8% in the overall sample. The only factor associated with HIV recent infection after multivariate analysis was key population group (p=0.03). The results showed that FSW were 95.7% more likely to have a recent HIV infection compared to the general population, while MSM were 97.1% more likely to have a recent HIV infection.
CONCLUSIONS: The results from the newly established HIV recency surveillance system in Burundi suggest that HIV prevention programs for MSM and FSW need to be strengthened, with a focus on targeted prevention interventions, including early identification of PLHIV, viral load monitoring, and improved access to pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis.

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