Venezuela has experienced substantial human displacement since 2015. To inform HIV programmes and treatment distribution, we aimed to estimate HIV prevalence and associated indicators among migrants and refugees from Venezuela residing in Colombia, the largest receiving country.

Methods

We conducted a biobehavioural, cross-sectional survey using respondent-driven sampling among Venezuelan people aged 18 years or older who had arrived in Colombia since 2015 and resided in four cities (ie, Bogotá, Soacha, Soledad, and Barranquilla). Participants completed sociobehavioural questionnaires and rapid HIV and syphilis screening with laboratory-based confirmatory testing, CD4 cell counts, and viral load quantification. Policies related to migration status affect access to insurance and HIV services in Colombia, as in many receiving countries, so we provided legal assistance and navigation support to participants with HIV for sustained access to treatment. Population-based estimates were weighted for the complex sampling design. Penalised multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify correlates of viral suppression (HIV-1 RNA <1000 copies per mL).

La traducción del resumen está disponible aquí:

https://ars.els-cdn.com/content/image/1-s2.0-S2352301823000851-mmc1.pdf

In conversation with... Ricardo Luque and Miguel Barriga (en Español)

Adrian Gonzalez (Deputy Editor) entrevista a Ricardo Luque (Oficina de Salud y Derechos Sexuales y Reproductivos del Ministerio de Salud y Protección Social, Colombia) y Miguel Barriga (Organización de base comunitaria "Red Somos", Colombia) sobre la situación sanitaria de los migrantes Venezolanos con VIH en Colombia.

Click here to listen to audio.