Assessing the Relationship Between HIV Quality of Care and Treatment Literacy on ART Adherence and Viral Suppression Among Female Sex Workers Living in the Dominican Republic

Authors

Tahilin Sanchez Karver, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA. tkarver@gwu.edu.
Yeycy Donastorg, HIV Vaccine Trials Research Unit, Instituto Dermatológico y Cirugía de la Piel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Martha Perez, HIV Vaccine Trials Research Unit, Instituto Dermatológico y Cirugía de la Piel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Hoisex Gomez, HIV Vaccine Trials Research Unit, Instituto Dermatológico y Cirugía de la Piel, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
Noya Galai, Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Clare Barrington, Department of Health Behavior, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
David Celentano, Department of Epidemiology, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Deanna Kerrigan, Department of Prevention and Community Health, Milken Institute School of Public Health, The George Washington University, 950 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20052, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

3-19-2022

Journal

AIDS and behavior

DOI

10.1007/s10461-022-03647-z

Keywords

HIV care continuum; Quality of care; Sex work; Treatment literacy

Abstract

This study assessed the relationship between the quality of HIV care and treatment literacy on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and viral suppression among female sex workers (FSWs) living with HIV (n = 211) in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Multivariable logistic regression results indicate better patient-provider communication (AOR 1.04; 95% CI 1.01-1.07) and respectful treatment (AOR 2.17; 95% CI 1.09-4.32) increase the odds of viral suppression, while higher costs reduce both the odds of ART adherence (AOR 0.57, 95% CI 0.34- 0.95) and being virally suppressed (AOR 0.59, 95% CI 0.41-0.85). Greater treatment literacy was associated with an increased odds of ART adherence (AOR 4.15 for understanding of viral load; 95% CI 1.50-11.52) and viral suppression (AOR 2.75 for understanding of CD4 count; 95% CI 1.31-5.80). Findings support investments in treatment education, effective and respectful patient-provider communication, dignified care, and cost-support for associated HIV care costs to facilitate FSWs' pathway towards viral suppression.

APA Citation

Karver, Tahilin Sanchez; Donastorg, Yeycy; Perez, Martha; Gomez, Hoisex; Galai, Noya; Barrington, Clare; Celentano, David; and Kerrigan, Deanna, "Assessing the Relationship Between HIV Quality of Care and Treatment Literacy on ART Adherence and Viral Suppression Among Female Sex Workers Living in the Dominican Republic" (2022). GW Authored Works. Paper 570.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/570

Department

Prevention and Community Health