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African men who have sex with men (MSM) face significant stigma and barriers to care. We investigated antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among high-risk adults, including MSM, participating in a clinic-based cohort. Survival analysis was used to compare attrition across patient groups. Differences in adherence, weight gain, and CD4 counts after ART initiation were assessed. Among 250 HIV-1-seropositive adults, including 108 MSM, 15 heterosexual men, and 127 women, patient group was not associated with attrition. Among 58 participants who were followed on ART, 40 % of MSM had less than 95 % adherence, versus 28.6 % of heterosexual men and 11.5 % of women. Although MSM gained less weight after ART initiation than women (adjusted difference -3.5 kg/year), CD4 counts did not differ. More data are needed on barriers to adherence and clinical outcomes among African MSM, to ensure that MSM can access care and derive treatment and prevention benefits from ART.

Original publication

DOI

10.1007/s10461-013-0445-9

Type

Journal article

Journal

AIDS Behav

Publication Date

05/2013

Volume

17

Pages

1255 - 1265

Keywords

Adolescent, Adult, African Continental Ancestry Group, Anti-Retroviral Agents, CD4 Lymphocyte Count, Follow-Up Studies, HIV Infections, HIV-1, Heterosexuality, Homosexuality, Male, Humans, Kenya, Lost to Follow-Up, Male, Medication Adherence, Middle Aged, Prospective Studies, Risk Factors, Risk-Taking, Sex Workers, Social Stigma, Socioeconomic Factors, Surveys and Questionnaires, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult