Open AccessHave the explosive HIV epidemics in sub-Saharan Africa been driven by higher community viral load?
Author(s) -
Laith J. AbuRaddad,
Ruanne V. Barnabas,
Holly Janes,
Helen A. Weiss,
James G. Kublin,
Ira M. Longini,
Judith N. Wasserheit
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
aids
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.195
H-Index - 216
eISSN - 1473-5571
pISSN - 0269-9370
DOI - 10.1097/qad.0b013e32835cb927
Subject(s) - viral load , population , virology , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , confidence interval , viral disease , demography , immunology , biology , medicine , environmental health , sociology
The HIV epidemic has carved contrasting trajectories around the world with sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) being most affected. We hypothesized that mean HIV-1 plasma RNA viral loads are higher in SSA than other areas, and that these elevated levels may contribute to the scale of epidemics in this region.