"The First Thing I Must do is Become Undetectable": Examining U=U Awareness and the HIV Care Continuum Among Gay, Bisexual, and Other Men Who Have Sex With Men Living With HIV in Lima, Peru.

Authors

Reni Forer, Julien Brisson, Hugo Sanchez, Diego Veneros, Alexander Lankowski, Ann Duerr

Published in

Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. Volume 25. Pages 23259582261471983. Epub Jul 27, 2026.

Abstract

ObjectivesAwareness of "Undetectable = Untransmittable" (U=U) may strengthen HIV care engagement, yet its influence remains underexamined, particularly in Latin America. Among gay and bisexual men living with HIV in Lima, Peru, we examined (1) sociostructural correlates of U=U awareness; (2) U=U educational experiences and trust; (3) associations between U=U awareness and self-reported ART use; and (4) associations between U=U awareness and viral load.MethodsWe conducted a sequential explanatory mixed-methods study including a survey (N=310) and individual interviews (N=30).ResultsMost participants (86%) were aware of U=U. Awareness was less common among those diagnosed more recently, those without income in the past month, and non-binary participants. Participants aware of U=U were more likely to report linkage to care, current ART use, and viral suppression. Qualitative findings highlighted U=U as a motivator for ART adherence and viral suppression.ConclusionsTogether, these findings underscore the importance of integrating clear, consistent U=U counseling into HIV services in Peru and globally.

PMID:
42507841
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 28 Jul 2026.

Read full publication at:
Please sign in to see all details.

Stats

1-terrible, 9-excellent. How would you rate this publication? Sign in in to submit your rating.

Post a comment

You need to be signed in to post comments. You can sign in here.

Comments

There are no comments yet.