Effect of perceived HIV risk on initiation of antiretroviral therapy during the universal test and treat era in South Africa

Table 3 ART initiation and clinical associations with perceived risk to HIV infection

Variable	High HIV risk perception^a N = 1382 n (%) or n (Mean ± SD)	Low HIV risk perception^b N = 137 n (%) or n (Mean ± SD)	p-value
Baseline CD4 count (cells/mm³)	361 (242.3)	507 (260.2)	0.027
Initiated ART within 12 months of enrolment	1310 (95.1)	125 (91.2)	0.022
Time to ART initiation (days)	4 (3.67)	11 (40.91)	0.042
Participant status at end of clinical follow-up:
Retained in care at study clinic	1039 (79.1)	23 (29.5)	0.001
Transferred to another HIV clinic	17 (1.4)	17 (21.7)	0.637
Mortality	61 (4.6)	5 (6.4)	0.447
Lost to clinical follow-up	197 (14.9)	33 (42.4)	0.027

^aParticipant reported the belief that they probably or definitely will be infected with HIV
^bParticipant reported the belief that they probably or definitely will not be infected with HIV

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