ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Epidemiology
doi: 10.25005/2074-0581-2025-27-4-899-910
EFFECTIVENESS OF ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY IN ADULT PATIENTS IN THE DISTRICTS UNDER CENTRAL GOVERNMENT JURISDICTION IN TAJIKISTAN: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS

O. SAID1,2, S.S. KARIMOV2, N.А. ABDUKHAMEDOV3

1Center for AIDS Prevention and Control of Rudaki District, Rudaki District, Republic of Tajikistan
2Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan
3Republican Center for AIDS Prevention and Control, Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan

Objective: To assess the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people over 18 years of age and older living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV 18+) in the Districts Under Central Government Jurisdiction in Tajikistan (TJ-RA)

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, primary medical records (both electronic and paper) were analyzed anonymously, including viral load (VL) test results from 2023 for PLHIV 18+ who began ART before June 30, 2022. The study involved representative samples of patients from the Republican Center for AIDS Prevention and Control across six districts in the Republic of Tajikistan: Vahdat, Gissar, Nurobod, Rasht, Rudaki, and Tursunzoda, with participant numbers of 106, 95, 36, 50, 99, and 85, respectively. Statistical analysis of the data was performed using nonparametric methods. Results are presented as absolute numbers and percentages, with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) calculated to assess the statistical accuracy of the point estimates. The statistical significance of any differences between the districts was evaluated using the chisquare test (χ²).

Results: ART coverage among PLHIV 18+ (regardless of ART initiation date) across the districts was 95%, 95%, 98%, 91%, 98%, and 95%, respectively (p>0.05). The rates of suppressed and undetectable VL were 93%, 99%, 100%, 96%, 93%, and 97% (p>0.05), and 98%, 100%, 100%, 100%, 100%, and 100%, respectively (p>0.05) among PLHIV 18+ who met the inclusion criteria in the respective districts. On average, 95% of PLHIV18+ in all districts (out of a total sample size of N) had a suppressed VL, based on data as of December 31, 2023.

Conclusion: Most of the six districts achieved the second UNAIDS 95 target, which is the percentage of PLHIV 18+ receiving ART, as well as the third UNAIDS 95 target, which focuses on achieving a suppressed VL in those receiving ART, ahead of schedule. In all districts, participants' VL was considered undetectable. These outcomes contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of HIV interventions in the country, including efforts to prevent mother-to-child (vertical) transmission.

Keywords: HIV infection, people living with HIV, districts of republican sub-ordination, antiretroviral therapy, suppressed viral load, global targets 95- 95-95.

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Authors' information:

Orzui Said,
Director of the Center for AIDS Prevention and Control of Rudaki District; Assistant of the Department of Epidemiology, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University
ORCID ID: 0009-0003-4774-7718
E-mail: dr.orzuisaeed@mail.ru

Karimov Sayfuddin Saytodzhevich,
Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor of the Department of Epidemiology, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-8740-7158
E-mail: saif64@mail.ru

Abdukhamedov Numon Abdullaevich,
Doctor of the Republican Center for AIDS Prevention and Control
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-2080-495X
SPIN: 5739-3713
Author ID: 1171248
E-mail: numon.art@mail.ru

Information about support in the form of grants, equipment, medications

The authors did not receive financial support from manufacturers of medicines and medical equipment

Conflicts of interest: No conflict

Address for correspondence:

Orzui Said
Director of the Center for AIDS Prevention and Control of Rudaki District

735100, Republic of Tajikistan, Rudaki District, Somonyon Settlement, Ismoili Somoni str., 72

Tel: +992 (882) 887227

E-mail: dr.orzuisaeed@mail.ru


This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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