Estimation of cause-specific mortality in Rakai, Uganda, using verbal autopsy 1999-2019.

BACKGROUND: There are scant data on the causes of adult deaths in sub-Saharan Africa. We estimated the level and trends in adult mortality, overall and by different causes, in rural Rakai, Uganda, by age, sex, and HIV status. OBJECTIVES: To estimate and analyse adult cause-specific mortality trends in Rakai, Uganda. METHODOLOGY: Mortality information by cause, age, sex, and HIV status was recorded in the Rakai Community Cohort study using verbal autopsy interviews, HIV serosurveys, and residency data. We estimated the average number of years lived in adulthood. Using demographic decomposition methods, we estimated the contribution of each cause of death to adult mortality based on the average number of years lived in adulthood. RESULTS: Between 1999 and 2019, 63082 adults (15-60 years) were censused, with 1670 deaths registered. Of these, 1656 (99.2%) had completed cause of death data from verbal autopsy. The crude adult death rate was 5.60 (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.33-5.87) per 1000 person-years of observation (pyo). The crude death rate decreased from 11.41 (95% CI: 10.61-12.28) to 3.27 (95% CI: 2.89-3.68) per 1000 pyo between 1999-2004 and 2015-2019. The average number of years lived in adulthood increased in people living with HIV and decreased in HIV-negative individuals between 2000 and 2019. Communicable diseases, primarily HIV and Malaria, had the biggest decreases, which improved the average number of years lived by approximately extra 12 years of life in females and 6 years in males. There were increases in deaths due to non-communicable diseases and external causes, which reduced the average number of years lived in adulthood by 2.0 years and 1.5 years in females and males, respectively. CONCLUSION: There has been a significant decline in overall mortality from 1999 to 2019, with the greatest decline seen in people living with HIV since the availability of antiretroviral therapy in 2004. By 2020, the predominant causes of death among females were non-communicable diseases, with external causes of death dominating in males.

Main findings: There are significant declines in mortality in people living with HIV. However, mortality in HIV-negative people increased due to non-communicable diseases in females, and injuries and external causes of death among males.Added knowledge: In this HIV-endemic area, decreasing adult mortality has been documented over the last 20 years. This paper benchmarks the changes in cause-specific mortality in this area.Global health impact for policy action: As in many African countries, more effort is needed to reduce mortality for non-communicable diseases, injuries, and external causes of death as these seem to have been neglected.

HIV epidemiologic trends among occupational groups in Rakai, Uganda: A population-based longitudinal study, 1999-2016.

Certain occupations have been associated with heightened risk of HIV acquisition and spread in sub-Saharan Africa, including female bar and restaurant work and male transportation work. However, data on changes in population prevalence of HIV infection and HIV incidence within occupations following mass scale-up of African HIV treatment and prevention programs is very limited. We evaluated prospective data collected between 1999 and 2016 from the Rakai Community Cohort Study, a longitudinal population-based study of 15- to 49-year-old persons in Uganda. Adjusted prevalence risk ratios for overall, treated, and untreated, prevalent HIV infection, and incidence rate ratios for HIV incidence with 95% confidence intervals were estimated using Poisson regression to assess changes in HIV outcomes by occupation. Analyses were stratified by gender. There were 33,866 participants, including 19,113 (56%) women. Overall, HIV seroprevalence declined in most occupational subgroups among men, but increased or remained mostly stable among women. In contrast, prevalence of untreated HIV substantially declined between 1999 and 2016 in most occupations, irrespective of gender, including by 70% among men (12.3 to 4.2%; adjPRR = 0.30; 95%CI:0.23-0.41) and by 78% among women (14.7 to 4.0%; adjPRR = 0.22; 95%CI:0.18-0.27) working in agriculture, the most common self-reported primary occupation. Exceptions included men working in transportation. HIV incidence similarly declined in most occupations, but there were no reductions in incidence among female bar and restaurant workers, women working in local crafts, or men working in transportation. In summary, untreated HIV infection and HIV incidence have declined within most occupational groups in Uganda. However, women working in bars/restaurants and local crafts and men working in transportation continue to have a relatively high burden of untreated HIV and HIV incidence, and as such, should be considered priority populations for HIV programming.

Longitudinal patterns in indeterminate HIV rapid antibody test results: a population-based, prospective cohort study.

Rapid HIV tests are critical to HIV surveillance and universal testing and treatment programs. We assessed longitudinal patterns in indeterminate HIV rapid test results in an African population-based cohort. Prospective HIV rapid antibody test results, defined by two parallel rapid tests, among participants aged 15-49 years from three survey rounds of the Rakai Community Cohort Study, Uganda, from 2013 to 2018, were assessed. An indeterminate result was defined as any weak positive result or when one test was negative and the other was positive. A total of 31,405 participants contributed 54,459 person-visits, with 15,713 participants contributing multiple visits and 7,351 participants contributing 3 visits. The prevalence of indeterminate results was 2.7% (1,490/54,469). Of the participants with multiple visits who initially tested indeterminate (n = 591), 40.4% were negative, 18.6% were positive, and 41.0% were indeterminate at the subsequent visit. Of the participants with two consecutive indeterminate results who had a third visit (n = 67), 20.9% were negative, 9.0% were positive, and 70.2% remained indeterminate. Compared to a prior negative result, a prior indeterminate result was strongly associated with a subsequent indeterminate result [adjusted prevalence ratio, 23.0 (95% CI = 20.0-26.5)]. Compared to men, women were more likely to test indeterminate than negative [adjusted odds ratio, 2.3 (95% CI = 2.0-2.6)]. Indeterminate rapid HIV test results are highly correlated within an individual and 0.6% of the population persistently tested indeterminate over the study period. A substantial fraction of people with an indeterminate result subsequently tested HIV positive at the next visit, underscoring the importance of follow-up HIV testing protocols.IMPORTANCERapid HIV tests are a critical tool for expanding HIV testing and treatment to end the HIV epidemic. The interpretation and management of indeterminate rapid HIV test results pose a unique challenge for connecting all people living with HIV to the necessary care and treatment. Indeterminate rapid HIV test results are characterized by any weak positive result or discordant results (when one test is negative and the other is positive). We systematically tested all participants of a Ugandan population-based, longitudinal cohort study regardless of prior test results or HIV status to quantify longitudinal patterns in rapid HIV test results. We found that a substantial fraction (>15%) of participants with indeterminate rapid test results subsequently tested positive upon follow-up testing at the next visit. Our findings demonstrate the importance of follow-up HIV testing protocols for indeterminate rapid HIV test results.

Sexual pleasure and HIV-related worry in female sex workers on oral pre-exposure prophylaxis in south-western Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Female sex workers (FSWs) contribute disproportionately to HIV transmission in Uganda, and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is effective in preventing HIV among cisgender women. Psychological factors are important for PrEP uptake, but few studies have examined psychosocial changes due to PrEP use in Uganda. METHODS: In 2021, we recruited 524 FSWs in three Trans-African Highway towns and four fishing communities in south-western Uganda. We conducted structured interviews among women who were attending routine PrEP follow-up visits in six health units. Bivariable and multivariable modified regression using a robust covariance matrix estimator were used to identify factors associated with experiencing increased sexual pleasure and less worry about HIV because of PrEP. RESULTS: Overall, 80.9% participants reported that sex was more pleasurable because of taking PrEP. There were statistical trends for sex being more pleasurable when taking PrEP or when having condomless sex with casual paying partners (aPR=1.19, 95% CI=1.07-1.32, P =0.001). Almost three-quarters of the participants (76.3%) were less worried about getting HIV because of PrEP. Condomless sex with casual paying partners (aPR=1.17, 95% CI=1.05-1.31, P =0.032, P =0.003) and being On PrEP for the past 1-2years (aPR=1.18, 95% CI=1.00-1.38, P =0.032) was significantly associated with HIV-related worry (aPR=1.17, 95% CI=1.05-1.31, P =0.032, P =0.003) Conclusions : We found a positive impact of PrEP in Ugandan FSWs on two key psychosocial dimensions: (1) more pleasurable sex; and (2) less worry about acquiring HIV. Interventions aiming to increase PrEP uptake may find it useful to focus on psychosocial dimensions.

Longitudinal population-level HIV epidemiologic and genomic surveillance highlights growing gender disparity of HIV transmission in Uganda.

HIV incidence in eastern and southern Africa has historically been concentrated among girls and women aged 15-24 years. As new cases decline with HIV interventions, population-level infection dynamics may shift by age and gender. Here, we integrated population-based surveillance of 38,749 participants in the Rakai Community Cohort Study and longitudinal deep-sequence viral phylogenetics to assess how HIV incidence and population groups driving transmission have changed from 2003 to 2018 in Uganda. We observed 1,117 individuals in the incidence cohort and 1,978 individuals in the transmission cohort. HIV viral suppression increased more rapidly in women than men, however incidence declined more slowly in women than men. We found that age-specific transmission flows shifted: whereas HIV transmission to girls and women (aged 15-24 years) from older men declined by about one-third, transmission to women (aged 25-34 years) from men that were 0-6 years older increased by half in 2003 to 2018. Based on changes in transmission flows, we estimated that closing the gender gap in viral suppression could have reduced HIV incidence in women by half in 2018. This study suggests that HIV programmes to increase HIV suppression in men are critical to reduce incidence in women, close gender gaps in infection burden and improve men's health in Africa.

HIV and viremia prevalence in non-migrating members of migrant households in Rakai region, Uganda: A cross-sectional population-based study.

Introduction: In sub-Saharan Africa, migrants are more likely to be HIV seropositive and viremic than non-migrants. However, little is known about HIV prevalence and viremia in non-migrants living in households with in- or out-migration events. We compared HIV outcomes in non-migrating persons in households with and without migration events using data from the Rakai Community Cohort Study (RCCS), an open population-based cohort in Uganda. Methods: We analyzed RCCS survey data from one survey round collected between August 2016 and May 2018 from non-migrating participants aged 15-49. Migrant households were classified as those reporting ≥1 member moving into or out of the household since the prior survey. A validated rapid test algorithm determined HIV serostatus. HIV viremia was defined as >1,000 copies/mL. Modified Poisson regression was used to estimate associations between household migration and HIV outcomes, with results reported as adjusted prevalence ratios (adjPR) with 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). Analyses were stratified by gender, direction of migration (into/out of the household), and relationship between non-migrants and migrants (e.g., spouse). Results: There were 14,599 non-migrants (7,654, 52% women) identified in 9,299 households. 4,415 (30%) lived in a household with ≥1 recent migrant; of these, 972(22%) had migrant spouses, 1,102(25%) migrant children, and 875(20%) migrant siblings. Overall, HIV prevalence and viremia did not differ between non-migrants in migrant and non-migrant households. However, in stratified analyses, non-migrant women with migrant spouses were significantly more likely to be HIV seropositive compared to non-migrant women with non-migrant spouses (adjPR:1.44, 95%CI:1.21-1.71). Conversely, non-migrant mothers living with HIV who had migrant children were less likely to be viremic (adjPR:0.34, 95%CI:0.13-0.86). Among non-migrant men living with HIV, spousal migration was associated with a non-significant increased risk of viremia (adjPR:1.37, 95%CI:0.94-1.99). Associations did not typically differ for migration into or out of the household. Conclusions: Household migration was associated with HIV outcomes for certain non-migrants, suggesting that the context of household migration influences the observed association with HIV outcomes. In particular, non-migrating women with migrating spouses were more likely to have substantially higher HIV burden. Non-migrants with migrant spouses may benefit from additional support when accessing HIV services.

Secondary distribution of HIV self-test kits from males to their female sexual partners in two fishing communities in rural Uganda.

Secondary distribution of HIV self-test kits from females to their male partners has increased HIV testing rates in men but little evidence exists on the potential for HIV self-test kits distribution from males to their female partners. We assessed the acceptability of secondary HIV self-test kits distribution from males to their female sexual partners in a fishing community context. This secondary analysis used data from the PEer-led HIV Self-Testing intervention for MEN (PEST4MEN), a pilot interventional study in Buvuma and Kalangala districts in Uganda. At the baseline visit, in July 2022, data were collected from 400 men aged 15+ years who self-reported a HIV-negative or unknown HIV status. Enrolled men were asked to pick two oral fluid HIV self-test kits from a trained male distributor. At the first follow-up visit, in September 2022, men were asked about the number of kits that they received and if they gave kits to anyone, including to their female sexual partners. We used a modified Poisson regression model to determine the factors independently associated with giving kits to sexual partners. Data were analyzed using STATA version 16.0. Of 361 men interviewed at follow-up, 98.3% (355) received at least one kit; 79.7% (283) received two kits. Of those who received two kits, 64% (181) gave the second kit to anyone else; of these, 74.6% (132/177) gave it to a sexual partner. Being currently married (adjusted prevalence ratio [adj. PR] = 1.39; 95% confidence interval [95%CI]: 1.10, 1.75) and having difficulty in reading text prepared in the local language (adj. PR = 1.26; 95%CI: 1.03, 1.55) were significantly associated with men giving kits to their female sexual partners. Ninety-seven per cent (112/132) of the men reported that they knew their sexual partners' HIV self-test results. Of these, 93.7% (n = 105) reported that their partners were HIV-negative while 6.3% (n = 7) reported that they were HIV-positive. Only 28.6% (n = 2) of the HIV-positive sexual partners were reported to have initiated HIV care. Secondary distribution of HIV self-test kits from males to their female sexual partners is well accepted by women in the fishing communities, suggesting that distribution of kits through men in the fishing communities can help to improve HIV testing uptake among their female sexual partners.

Sexual and nonsexual violence and mental health among male refugees from the Democratic Republic of Congo residing in Kampala, Uganda: a population-based survey.

We conducted a population-based survey in 2013 in Kampala, Uganda, to examine violence and mental health outcomes among self-settled male refugees from the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Male DRC refugees aged 18+ years were sampled through respondent-driven sampling. Key interview domains included demographics, experiences of sexual and nonsexual violence, social support, PTSD, depression and suicide ideation. Data analysis was weighted to generate population-level estimates. We sampled 718 men (mean age: 33 years), most of whom had lived in North or South Kivu. Nonsexual violence, such as beatings (79.4%) and torture (63.8%), was frequent. A quarter (26.2%) had been raped; 49.9% of rape victims had been raped on multiple occasions, and 75.7% of rape victims had been gang raped. We estimated 52.8% had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); 44.4% reported suicidal ideation. Numerous traumas were significantly (p < 0.05) associated with PTSD such as rape (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.82), war-related injuries (aOR = 2.90) or having been exposed to >15 traumas (compared to ≤10; aOR = 6.89). Traumata are frequent experiences in this self-settled male refugee population and are often accompanied by adverse mental health outcomes. Screening for trauma and adverse mental health outcomes and providing targeted services are paramount to improve these refugees' lives.

Population prevalence of antiretroviral therapy sharing and its association with HIV viremia in rural Uganda: a cross-sectional population-based study.

INTRODUCTION: Antiretroviral treatment (ART) sharing has been reported among fishermen and sex workers in Uganda and South Africa. However, no population-based studies have documented ART diversion prevalence (including sharing [giving/receiving], buying and selling) or its relationship with viremia among men and women living with HIV in Africa. METHODS: In 2018-2020, we surveyed people living with HIV aged 15-49 years in 41 communities in the Rakai Community Cohort Study, a population-based cohort in south-central Uganda. We assessed the prevalence and correlates of self-reported lifetime and past-year ART diversion, stratifying by age and gender and documenting sources of diverted drugs. We used log-binomial regression to quantify the relationship between diversion patterns and viremia (viral load >40 copies/ml), reported as unadjusted and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Of 2852 people living with HIV and self-reporting current ART use, 266 (9.3%) reported lifetime ART diversion. Giving/receiving drugs were most common; few participants reported buying, and none reported selling. Men (12.9%) were more likely to report lifetime diversion than women (7.4%), with men aged 25-34 reporting high levels of sharing (18.9%). Friends were the most common sources of shared drugs, followed by spouses/sexual partners. Patterns of lifetime and past-year diversion were similar. Among participants with viral load results, 8.6% were viraemic. In adjusted analyses, people who reported only giving ART were nearly twice as likely to be viraemic than those who reported no diversion (aPR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.10-3.44), and those reporting only receiving ART were less likely to exhibit viremia (aPR: 0.46, 95% CI: 0.12-1.79), although the latter was not statistically significant. Reporting both giving and receiving ART was not associated with viremia (aPR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.43-1.46). Reporting buying ART, though rare, was also correlated with higher rates of viremia, but this relationship was not statistically significant (aPR: 1.98, 95% CI: 0.72-5.45). CONCLUSIONS: ART sharing is common among persons reporting ART use in rural Uganda, particularly among men. Sharing ART was associated with viremia, and receiving ART may facilitate viral suppression. HIV programmes may benefit from considering ART sharing in counselling messages.

A moving target: impacts of lowering viral load suppression cutpoints on progress towards HIV epidemic control goals.

Redefining viral load suppression (VLS) using lower cutpoints could impact progress towards the United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS 95-95-95 targets. We assessed impacts of lowering the VLS cutpoint on achieving the 'third 95' in the Rakai Community Cohort Study. Population VLS would fall from 86% to 84% and 76%, respectively, after lowering VLS cutpoints from <1000 to <200 and <50 copies/ml. The fraction of viremic persons increased by 17% after lowering the VLS cutpoint from <1000 to <200 copies/ml.

Mixed Methods, Implementation Science Evaluation of a Community Health Worker Strategy for HIV Service Engagement in Uganda.

BACKGROUND: A trial found that a community health worker (CHW) strategy using "Health Scouts" improved HIV care uptake and ART coverage. To better understand outcomes and areas for improvement, we conducted an implementation science evaluation. METHODS: Using the RE-AIM framework, quantitative methods included analyses of a community-wide survey (n = 1903), CHW log books, and phone application data. Qualitative methods included in-depth interviews (n = 72) with CHWs, clients, staff, and community leaders. RESULTS: Thirteen Health Scouts logged 11,221 counseling sessions; 2532 unique clients were counseled. 95.7% (1789 of 1891) of residents reported awareness of the Health Scouts. Overall, reach (self-reported receipt of counseling) was 30.7% (580 of 1891). Unreached residents were more likely to be male and HIV seronegative ( P < 0.05). Qualitative themes included the following: (1) reach was promoted by perceived usefulness but deterred by busy client lifestyles and stigma, (2) effectiveness was enabled through good acceptability and consistency with the conceptual framework, (3) adoption was facilitated by positive impacts on HIV service engagement, and (4) implementation fidelity was initially promoted by the CHW phone application but deterred by mobility. Maintenance showed consistent counseling sessions over time. The findings suggested the strategy was fundamentally sound but had suboptimal reach. Future iterations could consider adaptations to improve reach to priority populations, testing the need for mobile health support, and additional community sensitization to reduce stigma. CONCLUSIONS: A CHW strategy to promote HIV services was implemented with moderate success in an HIV hyperendemic setting and should be considered for adoption and scale-up in other communities as part of comprehensive HIV epidemic control efforts. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Trial Number NCT02556957.

Age Patterns of HSV-2 Incidence and Prevalence in Two Ugandan Communities: A Catalytic Incidence Model Applied to Population-Based Seroprevalence Data.

BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) is an incurable sexually transmitted infection associated with increased risk of acquiring and transmitting human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). HSV-2 is highly prevalent in sub-Saharan Africa, but population-level estimates of incidence are sparse. METHODS: We measured HSV-2 prevalence from cross-sectional serological data among adults aged 18-49 years in 2 south-central Uganda communities (fishing, inland). We identified risk factors for seropositivity, then inferred age patterns of HSV-2 with a Bayesian catalytic model. RESULTS: HSV-2 prevalence was 53.6% (n = 975/1819; 95% confidence interval, 51.3%-55.9%). Prevalence increased with age, was higher in the fishing community, and among women, reaching 93.6% (95% credible interval, 90.2%-96.6%) by age 49 years. Factors associated with HSV-2 seropositivity included more lifetime sexual partners, HIV positive status, and lower education. HSV-2 incidence peakied at age 18 years for women and 19-20 years for men. HIV prevalence was up to 10-fold higher in HSV-2-positive individuals. CONCLUSIONS: HSV-2 prevalence and incidence were extremely high, with most infections occurring in late adolescence. Interventions against HSV-2, such as future vaccines or therapeutics, must target young populations. Remarkably higher HIV prevalence among HSV-2-positive individuals underscores this population as a priority for HIV prevention.

Dynamics of Pre-Exposure (PrEP) Eligibility Because of Waxing and Waning of HIV Risk in Rakai, Uganda.

BACKGROUND: We conducted a retrospective population-based study to describe longitudinal patterns of prevalence, incidence, discontinuation, resumption, and durability of substantial HIV risk behaviors (SHR) for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) eligibility. METHODS: The study was conducted among HIV-negative study participants aged 15-49 years who participated in survey rounds of the Rakai Community Cohort Study between August 2011 and June 2018. Substantial HIV risk was defined based on the Uganda national PrEP eligibility as reporting sexual intercourse with >1 partner of unknown HIV status, nonmarital sex without a condom, having genital ulcers, or having transactional sex. Resumption of SHR meant resuming of SHR after stopping SHR, whereas persistence of SHR meant SHR on >1 consecutive visit. We used generalized estimation equations with log-binomial regression models and robust variance to estimate survey-specific prevalence ratios; Generalized estimation equations with modified Poisson regression models and robust variance to estimate incidence ratios for incidence, discontinuation, and resumption of PrEP eligibility. FINDINGS: Incidence of PrEP eligibility increased from 11.4/100 person-years (pys) in the first intersurvey period to 13.9/100 pys (adjusted incidence rate ratios = 1.28; 95%CI = 1.10-1.30) and declined to 12.6/100 pys (adjusted incidence rate ratios = 1.06; 95%CI = 0.98-1.15) in the second and third intersurvey periods, respectively. Discontinuation rates of SHR for PrEP eligibility were stable (ranging 34.9/100 pys-37.3/100 pys; P = 0.207), whereas resumption reduced from 25.0/100 pys to 14.5/100 pys ( P < 0.001). PrEP eligibility episodes lasted a median time of 20 months (IQR = 10-51). INTERPRETATION: Pre-exposure prophylaxis use should be tailored to the dynamic nature of PrEP eligibility. Preventive-effective adherence should be adopted for assessment of attrition in PrEP programs.

Longitudinal population-level HIV epidemiologic and genomic surveillance highlights growing gender disparity of HIV transmission in Uganda.

HIV incidence in eastern and southern Africa has historically been concentrated among girls and women aged 15-24 years. As new cases decline with HIV interventions, population-level infection dynamics may shift by age and gender. Here, we integrated population-based surveillance of 38,749 participants in the Rakai Community Cohort Study and longitudinal deep sequence viral phylogenetics to assess how HIV incidence and population groups driving transmission have changed from 2003 to 2018 in Uganda. We observed 1,117 individuals in the incidence cohort and 1,978 individuals in the transmission cohort. HIV viral suppression increased more rapidly in women than men, however incidence declined more slowly in women than men. We found that age-specific transmission flows shifted, while HIV transmission to girls and women (aged 15-24 years) from older men declined by about one third, transmission to women (aged 25-34 years) from men that were 0-6 years older increased by half in 2003 to 2018. Based on changes in transmission flows, we estimated that closing the gender gap in viral suppression could have reduced HIV incidence in women by half in 2018. This study suggests that HIV programs to increase HIV suppression in men are critical to reduce incidence in women, close gender gaps in infection burden and improve men's health in Africa.

A Moving Target: Impacts of Lowering Viral Load Suppression Cutpoints on Progress Towards HIV Epidemic Control Goals.

Redefining viral load suppression (VLS) using lower cutpoints could impact progress towards the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. We assessed impacts of lowering the VLS cutpoint on achieving the 95-95-95 VLS target in the Rakai Community Cohort Study. Population VLS fell from 86% to 84% and 76%, respectively, after lowering VLS cutpoints from <1,000 to <200 and <50 copies/mL. The fraction of viremic persons increased by 17% after lowering the VLS cutpoint from <1,000 to <200 copies/mL.

Self-reported and pill count measures of adherence to oral HIV PrEP among female sex workers living in South-Western Uganda.

BACKGROUND: Female sex workers (FSWs) in Uganda are at high risk of HIV infection. Scaling up oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) will reduce HIV incidence if high levels of adherence are maintained. This study evaluates PrEP adherence using clinic-based pill counts and self-reported measures, and factors associated with protective levels of adherence. METHODS: Participants were sex workers who had been taking PrEP for at least 5 months and were attending routine follow-up visits for PrEP care in fishing communities and along the Trans-African Highway. Participants who had a pill count showing at least 85% use since their last clinic visit and those who reported taking their PrEP every day in the last 5 months were categorised as having 'protective adherence'. Spearman's correlation and weighted kappa assessed the relationship between pill count and self-reported measures. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with protective adherence as measured by pill count. RESULTS: We recruited 524 FSWs, with a median age of 29 years (IQR 23-35). Participants were recruited from fishing communities and Trans-African Highway towns (n = 297, 56.7%, and n = 227, 43.0%). Nearly three quarters (n = 372, 71.0%) of women were estimated to have protective adherence based on pill count (i.e., a pill count of >85%) and 50.4% by self-report in last 3 months. There was a strong positive association between self-reported measures and pill count measures (rest = 0.6453, 95% CI = 0.5924-0.6927) and a moderate agreement between self-reported measures and pill count measures, κ = 0.544 (95%CI = 0.4869-0.6011, p < 0.001). Factors associated with protective adherence included being aged 35 years or older (aOR = 2.40, 95% CI = 1.17-4.86), living in a fishing community (aOR = 1.45, 95% CI = 0.62-3.38), and having an STI in last 3 months (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.07-2.49). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that PrEP-experienced FSWs attending clinical follow-up visits reported high protective levels of oral pre-exposure prophylaxis, as measured by both pill count and self-reported measures, and a moderate agreement between pill count and self-reported measures.

Makerere's contribution to the development of a high impact HIV research population-based cohort in the Rakai Region, Uganda.

Longitudinal population-based cohort studies can provide critical insights on temporal, spatial and sociodemographic changes in health status and health determinants that are not obtained by other study designs. However, establishing and maintaining such a cohort study can be challenging and expensive. Here, we describe the role of Makerere University in the development and conduct of such a cohort. We chronicle the first academia-led reports of HIV in East Africa; how this led to initiation of the Rakai Community Cohort Study in 1988, the first and oldest HIV cohort in sub-Saharan Africa; its impact on HIV prevention, care and treatment; how the cohort has been maintained; and opportunities, challenges, and future directions including non-communicable diseases.