title: Acceptability of early anti-retroviral therapy among HIV-infected people in Anhui province in China.
abstract: We investigated the acceptability of early anti-retroviral therapy (ART) among HIV-infected people in Anhui Province, China. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 11 convenience selected cities of Anhui Province from September 2012 to December 2013. Study participants were convenience recruited from local Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when they attended for CD4(+) cell counts testing and HIV counselling. Answers to questionnaires were obtained through face-to-face structured interviews. Factors influencing the acceptability of early ART were identified by multiple logistic regression analysis. A total of 287 HIV-infected people met the criteria and completed the survey. The acceptability of early ART was 65.2%. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that the acceptability of early ART was associated with the following factors: CD4(+) T cell count (above 750 cells/µL vs. 350 cells/µL to 550 cells/µL: OR = 0.144, P < 0.001), years of HIV diagnosis confirmation (1 year to 5 years vs. <1 year: OR = 0.418, P = 0.005; above 5 years vs. <1 year: OR = 0.160, P < 0.001), whether had sexual behaviour after HIV diagnosis confirmation (yes vs. no: OR = 2.342, P = 0.005) and the awareness of two early ART-related questions (OR = 4.101, P = 0.015; OR = 3.294, P < 0.001). In summary, the present study showed that most HIV-infected people can accept early ART. Early ART interest in Anhui HIV-infected population was high. The awareness of early ART-related knowledge in HIV-infected population was low and should be improved to achieve higher acceptability and keep adherence to early ART for HIV prevention.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health , Anhui Medical University , Hefei , China.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhenhai
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Hongmin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Pan
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Qirong
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Qin
authors.forename: Yinguang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Fen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D012044:Regression Analysis; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents
keywords: China; HIV; acceptability; early anti-retroviral therapy; influencing factor