Zanoni, BrianSibaya, ThobekileCairns, ChellineLammert, SaraHaberer, Jessica2018-02-262017Zanoni, Brian C., Thobekile Sibaya, Chelline Cairns, Sara Lammert, and Jessica E. Haberer. 2017. “Higher retention and viral suppression with adolescent-focused HIV clinic in South Africa.” PLoS ONE 12 (12): e0190260. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0190260. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190260.http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:34868720Objective: To determine retention in care and virologic suppression among HIV-infected adolescents and young adults attending an adolescent-friendly clinic compared to those attending the standard pediatric clinic at the same site. Design: Retrospective cohort analysis. Setting: Government supported, hospital-based antiretroviral clinic in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Participants: Two hundred forty-one perinatally HIV-infected adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 24 years attending an adolescent-friendly clinic or the standard pediatric clinic from April 2007 to November 2015. Intervention Attendance in an adolescent-friendly clinic compared to a standard pediatric clinic. Outcomes measures Retention in care defined as one clinic visit or pharmacy refill in the prior 6 months; HIV-1 viral suppression defined as < 400 copies/ml. Results: Overall, among 241 adolescents and young adults, retention was 89% (214/241) and viral suppression was 81% (196/241). Retention was higher among those attending adolescent clinic (95%) versus standard pediatric clinic (85%; OR 3.7; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–11.1; p = 0.018). Multivariable logistic regression adjusted for age at ART initiation, gender, pre-ART CD4 count, months on ART, and tuberculosis history indicated higher odds of retention in adolescents and young adults attending adolescent compared to standard clinic (AOR = 8.5; 95% CI 2.3–32.4; p = 0.002). Viral suppression was higher among adolescents and young adults attending adolescent (91%) versus standard pediatric clinic (80%; OR 2.5; 95% CI 1.1–5.8; p = 0.028). A similar multivariable logistic regression model indicated higher odds of viral suppression in adolescents and young adults attending adolescent versus standard pediatric clinic (AOR = 3.8; 95% CI 1.5–9.7; p = 0.005). Conclusion: Adolescents and young adults attending an adolescent-friendly clinic had higher retention in care and viral suppression compared to adolescents attending the standard pediatric clinic. Further studies are needed to prospectively assess the impact of adolescent-friendly services on these outcomes.en-USPeople and PlacesPopulation GroupingsAge GroupsYoung AdultsChildrenAdolescentsFamiliesMedicine and Health SciencesPediatricsBiology and Life SciencesImmunologyVaccination and ImmunizationAntiviral TherapyAntiretroviral TherapyPublic and Occupational HealthPreventive MedicineMicrobiologyMedical MicrobiologyMicrobial PathogensViral PathogensImmunodeficiency VirusesHIVPathology and Laboratory MedicinePathogensOrganismsVirusesBiology and life sciencesRNA virusesRetrovirusesLentivirusPeople and placesGeographical locationsAfricaSouth AfricaVirologyViral Transmission and InfectionViral LoadSocial SciencesSociologyEducationSchoolsJournal Article2018-02-2610.1371/journal.pone.0190260