Suchergebnisse

AbstractWe explored the viability of using air quality as an alternative to aggregated location data from mobile phones in the two most populated cities in Uganda. We accessed air quality and Google mobility data collected from 15th February 2020 to 10th June 2021 and augmented them with mobility restrictions implemented during the COVID-19 lockdown. We determined whether air quality data depicted similar patterns to mobility data before, during, and after the lockdown and determined associations between air quality and mobility by computing Pearson correlation coefficients ($$R$$
R
), conducting multivariable regression with associated confidence intervals (CIs), and visualized the relationships using scatter plots. Residential mobility increased with the stringency of restrictions while both non-residential mobility and air pollution decreased with the stringency of restrictions. In Kampala, PM2.5 was positively correlated with non-residential mobility and negatively correlated with residential mobility. Only correlations between PM2.5 and movement in work and residential places were statistically significant in Wakiso. After controlling for stringency in restrictions, air quality in Kampala was independently correlated with movement in retail and recreation (− 0.55; 95% CI =  − 1.01– − 0.10), parks (0.29; 95% CI = 0.03–0.54), transit stations (0.29; 95% CI = 0.16–0.42), work (− 0.25; 95% CI =  − 0.43– − 0.08), and residential places (− 1.02; 95% CI =  − 1.4– − 0.64). For Wakiso, only the correlation between air quality and residential mobility was statistically significant (− 0.99; 95% CI =  − 1.34– − 0.65). These findings suggest that air quality is linked to mobility and thus could be used by public health programs in monitoring movement patterns and the spread of infectious diseases without compromising on individuals' privacy.

AbstractIntroductionPopulation‐level data on durable HIV viral load suppression (VLS) following the implementation of Universal Test and Treat (UTT) in Africa are limited. We assessed trends in durable VLS and viraemia among persons living with HIV in 40 Ugandan communities during the UTT scale‐up.MethodsIn 2015–2020, we measured VLS (<200 RNA copies/ml) among participants in the Rakai Community Cohort Study, a longitudinal population‐based HIV surveillance cohort in southern Uganda. Persons with unsuppressed viral loads were characterized as having low‐level (200–999 copies/ml) or high‐level (≥1000 copies/ml) viraemia. Individual virologic outcomes were assessed over two consecutive RCCS survey visits (i.e. visit‐pairs; ∼18‐month visit intervals) and classified as durable VLS (<200 copies/ml at both visits), new/renewed VLS (<200 copies/ml at follow‐up only), viral rebound (<200 copies/ml at initial visit only) or persistent viraemia (≥200 copies/ml at both visits). Population prevalence of each outcome was assessed over calendar time. Community‐level prevalence and individual‐level predictors of persistent high‐level viraemia were also assessed using multivariable Poisson regression with generalized estimating equations.ResultsOverall, 3080 participants contributed 4604 visit‐pairs over three survey rounds. Most visit‐pairs (72.4%) exhibited durable VLS, with few (2.5%) experiencing viral rebound. Among those with any viraemia at the initial visit (23.5%, n = 1083), 46.9% remained viraemic through follow‐up, 91.3% of which was high‐level viraemia. One‐fifth (20.8%) of visit‐pairs exhibiting persistent high‐level viraemia self‐reported antiretroviral therapy (ART) use for ≥12 months. Prevalence of persistent high‐level viraemia varied substantially across communities and was significantly elevated among young persons aged 15–29 years (vs. 40‐ to 49‐year‐olds; adjusted risk ratio [adjRR] = 2.96; 95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 2.21–3.96), males (vs. females; adjRR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.87–3.07), persons reporting inconsistent condom use with non‐marital/casual partners (vs. persons with marital/permanent partners only; adjRR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.10–1.74) and persons reporting hazardous alcohol use (adjRR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.03–1.16). The prevalence of persistent high‐level viraemia was highest among males <30 years (32.0%).ConclusionsFollowing universal ART provision, most persons living with HIV in south‐central Uganda are durably suppressed. Among persons exhibiting any viraemia, nearly half exhibited high‐level viraemia for ≥12 months and reported higher‐risk behaviours associated with onward HIV transmission. Intensified efforts linking individuals to HIV treatment services could accelerate momentum towards HIV epidemic control.