Reported Church Attendance at the Time of Entry into HIV Care is Associated with Viral Load Suppression at 12 Months

The Southeast has high rates of church attendance and HIV infection rates. We evaluated the relationship between church attendance and HIV viremia in a Southeastern US, HIV-infected cohort. 

Viremia (viral load ≥200 copies/ml) was analyzed 12 months after initiation of care. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were fit for variables potentially related to viremia. Of 382 patients, 74 % were virally suppressed at 12 months. 

Protective variables included church attendance, being on antiretroviral therapy, CD4⁺ T lymphocyte count 200-350 cells/mm³ at care entry, and education. Variables predicting viremia included black race and selective disclosure of HIV status. 

Church attendance may provide needed support for patients entering HIV care for the first time.

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By:  Van Wagoner N1, Elopre L2, Westfall AO1, Mugavero MJ1, Turan J3, Hook EW1.

• 1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
• 2Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA. lelopre@uabmc.edu.
• 3Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. 

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