title: Reported Church Attendance at the Time of Entry into HIV Care is Associated with Viral Load Suppression at 12 Months.
abstract: 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 (AOR 0.5; 95 % CI 0.2, 0.9), being on antiretroviral therapy (AOR 0.01; 95 % CI 0.004, 0.04), CD4(+) T lymphocyte count 200-350 cells/mm(3) at care entry (AOR 0.3; 95 % 0.1, 0.9), and education (AOR 0.5; 95 % CI 0.2, 0.9). Variables predicting viremia included black race (AOR 3.2; 95 % CI 1.4, 7.4) and selective disclosure of HIV status (AOR 2.7; 95 % CI 1.2, 5.6). Church attendance may provide needed support for patients entering HIV care for the first time.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Wagoner
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA. lelopre@uabmc.edu.
authors.forename: Latesha
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Elopre
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Andrew O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Westfall
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Mugavero
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care Organization and Policy, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
authors.forename: Janet
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, ZRB 206, 1720 2nd Ave South, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Edward W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Hook
mesh_terms: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D044383:Black People / Q000523:psychology*; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D012067:Religion; D012944:Social Support; D029181:Spirituality; D019562:Viral Load
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents
keywords: Church attendance; Disclosure; HIV; Viral load