Assessing late presentation for female adolescents and young women with HIV in 2019, South Africa

Abstract

Abstract Background South Africa has the biggest HIV epidemic in the world, with an estimated 7.1million people living with HIV in 2018. In 2016, women aged 15-24 contributed 37% of new infections. Poverty, low status, gender-based violence (GBV) and intergenerational relationships possibly contribute to this disparate HIV prevalence. The objective of this study was to describe very advanced HIV disease (CD4< count <100cells/µL) amongst 15-24 year old females by interrogating routine laboratory CD4 data. Methods Specimen level CD4 laboratory data of female patients aged 15-24 was extracted for the 2019 calendar year. Patients were categorized as adolescents (15-19) or young women (20-24), in age categories of (i) 15-16, (ii) 17-19, (iii) 20-21 and (iv) 22-24 years. Frequency tables were used to report test volumes and the percentage of samples with counts <100 cells/µl. Results Amongst 259 088 CD4 outcomes extracted, 5.4% of samples had counts <100 cells/µl, with 75.4% of samples from young women and 24.6% from adolescents. Most samples reported an age between 22-24 (52.2%), with the lowest proportion (5.8%) noted in 15-16 year olds. Median CD4 was 485 cells/µL, with medians of 490 and 470 cells/µl noted for young women and adolescents respectively. Review of the <100 cells/µl group revealed a median of 43 cells/µL, with 38 and 46 cells/µL reported for young women and adolescents respectively. There was no significant association between the median CD4 and age category. Very advanced HIV disease by age categories of 15-16, 17-19, 20-21 and 22-24, comprised 7.0%, 5.6%, 5.0% and 5.3% respectively. Conclusions This study demonstrated unacceptable rates of very advanced HIV disease in female adolescents and young women, suggesting HIV seroconversion as teenagers or younger. Evidence-based specific health care interventions for these girls are urgently required, including tailoring social services and health facilities to secure the sexual health of girls and young women. Key messages Very advanced HIV disease presentation in female adolescents is unacceptably high. Young women and adolescents with late presentation.