Analysis of Factors Associated with Antiretroviral Therapy Intiation & Its Timeliness among HIV Sero-Discordant Couples in High HIV Prevalence Regions, China

A total of 10 213 HIV-positive individuals were included in this study, among whom 73.9% were males and 26.1% were females, 66.4% had initiated ART and 33.6% had not. There were 1 733 serodiscordant couples who were reported during January 1, 2012 to October 31, 2013 had initiated ART. Among those 64.9% had successfully initiated ART within two months of receiving their HIV diagnosis and 35.1% had not. 

Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that those being male were 0.81 less likely to initiate ART, as compared with those being female. Those being Yi ethnicity were 0.29 less likely to initiate ART, as compared with those being Han ethnicity. Those being Uygur ethnicity were 1.57 times more likely to initiate ART, as compared with those being Han ethnicity. Those engaging the other jobs were 0.85 less likely to initiate ART, as compared with those being peasant. Those being diagnosed in medical institutions were 0.61 less likely to initiate ART, as compared with those being diagnosed in VCT. Those having CD4(+)T cells of 250-349, 350-550 and > 550 were 0.75, 0.17, 0.10 less likely to initiate ART, respectively, as compared with those having CD4(+)T cells of < 250. Those having duration of follow-up of 13-36 months and ≥ 37 months were 0.55 and 0.32 less likely to initiate ART respectively, as compared with those having duration of follow-up of ≤ 12 months. 

Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that those being Yi and Uygur ethnicity were 0.63 and 0.40 less likely to initiate ART timely respectively, as compared with those being Han ethnicity. Those being infected through injecting drug use were 0.64 less likely to initiate ART timely, as compared with those being infected through heterosexual intercourse. Those being diagnosed in other institutions were 0.58 less likely to initiate ART timely, as compared with those being diagnosed in VCT. Those having CD4(+)T cells of 250-349, 350-550 and > 550 were 0.75, 0.44, and 0.31 less likely to initiate ART timely respectively, as compared with those having CD4(+)T cells of < 250.

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