High rates of deferring antiretroviral treatment for patients with HIV and substance use disorders: Results from a national sample of HIV physicians in Ukraine
Ottesen T, Wickersham J, Lawrence J, Antoniak S, Zezuilin O, Polonsky M, Antonyak S, Rozanova J, Dvoriak S, Pykalo I, Filippovych M, Altice F. High rates of deferring antiretroviral treatment for patients with HIV and substance use disorders: Results from a national sample of HIV physicians in Ukraine. PLOS ONE 2024, 19: e0305086. PMID: 39028735, PMCID: PMC11259278, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305086.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAntiretroviral therapy prescriptionAntiretroviral therapyCD4 countSubstance use disordersIncreased levels of stigmaNational sampleLevel of stigmaIndependent of risk groupSuboptimal antiretroviral therapyInitiate antiretroviral therapyPopulation of peopleHIV expertsHIV incidenceHIV physiciansHIV treatmentKey populationsTransgender womenAntiretroviral treatmentFeeling thermometerDrinking alcoholSex workersPhysiciansSex partnersPWHRisk groups