Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Apr 11, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Apr 11, 2025 - Jun 6, 2025
Date Accepted: Jul 23, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
Viral load suppression associated with undisclosed HIV Status among adolescents aged 10-19 living with HIV in low-middle income countries: Scoping Review protocol
ABSTRACT
Background:
Vertical transmission of HIV is prevalent among adolescents globally. Most of the adolescents living with HIV were infected with HIV during pregnancy and through breastfeeding. Though disclosure of HIV status by the primary caregiver is recommended to begin when the child reaches the age of eight years and older, disclosure hesitancy remains a challenge, resulting in the adolescent taking antiretroviral medication without informed knowledge.
Objective:
This review study will be aimed to synthesize the best available studies at describing the magnitude of viral load suppression associated with undisclosed HIV status among adolescent adolescents aged 10-19 years old living with HIV.
Methods:
This study will conduct evidence synthesis from the published literature about a research question regarding viral load suppression associated with undisclosed HIV status among adolescents living with HIV. The Population, Concept and Context (PCC) framework will be considered more useful in guiding this study. Search for various studies will be performed in PubMed, Medline, Embase, Google Scholar, and Science Direct from 2010 to 2024.
Results:
A total of 3174 results were retrieved from the search in electronic databases from the year 2010. The scope review will conclude by the end of 2024 with the results of 2147. The extent of unsuppressed viral load was found to be negatively affect the holistic well-being of adolescents with undisclosed status. The results shed a light on the magnitude of viral load suppression associated with undisclosed HIV status among adolescents who acquired the infection through vertical transmission. Disclosure of HIV status can improve quality of life, social support, immune recovery and adherence to antiretroviral therapy, but non-disclosure increases the risk of loss of follow-up and represents an important obstacle to achieving viral load suppression.
Conclusions:
This scoping systematic review aims to provide an insight of the available research without providing outcomes and guide of clinical decision-making and interventions The findings of this review will enhance the HIV disclosure for adolescent guidelines to improve the management and care regarding the challenge and to reduce HIV infection among adolescents and youth. Clinical Trial: none
Citation
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