HIV/AIDS Research Highlights Adherence Challenges in Pediatric HIV Care

Strategic Insights -

Research on HIV/AIDS and pediatric HIV care highlighted the critical need for improved antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and prevention of drug resistance in children living with HIV globally. A global HIV clinical data consortium studied how HIV care programs measure and support pediatric ART adherence, revealing that most programs measure adherence, but few use objective or validated measures. The study found that children under 14 years old and males were less likely to experience viral suppression in certain regions, emphasizing the need to target adherence support to these high-risk groups.

Key Takeaways:

  • 28,664 pediatric patients had at least one adherence measurement, with 87% of sites using clinician adherence assessment and 86% using pharmacy refills as adherence measurement methods.
  • Counseling focused on adherence was the most commonly available support service, available at 94% of sites.
  • In East Africa and Southern Africa, higher baseline CD4 counts were associated with a greater likelihood of viral suppression, but this relationship was inconsistent in other regions.
  • Very young children (10 years or younger) and males were less likely to experience viral suppression in East Africa and Southern Africa.
  • The study emphasized the importance of identifying subgroups of children and youth at highest risk for non-adherence to target adherence support or resistance monitoring.

Statistics:

  • 28,664 pediatric patients had at least one adherence measurement.
  • 87% of sites used clinician adherence assessment, while 86% used pharmacy refills as adherence measurement methods.
  • 94% of sites provided counseling focused on adherence.
  • 180 pediatric sites in 45 countries participated in the study.
  • The study focused on children and adolescents living with HIV aged 0-14 years.

Sources:

  • Rates of adherence, adherence measurement, and support services for children and adolescents living with HIV followed in global sites of the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA). BMC Pediatrics, 2025;25(1):706.
  • NewsRx. Researchers at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Target HIV/AIDS [Rates of adherence, adherence measurement, and support services for children and adolescents living with HIV followed in global sites of the International Epidemiology ...]. AIDS Weekly. October 13, 2025; p 139.