Table 2 Prevalence and factors associated with an unsuppressed viral load (VL ≥  ≥ 50 copies/ml) among HIV-positive individuals attending STI services, Gauteng and Western Cape, 2019, N = 93

Age category

  ≥ 25 years

61/82

74.39

Ref

  < 25 years

10/11

90.90

1.22 (0.97–1.53)

0.08*

0.27 (0.42–1.77)

0.17

Age at first sex

  ≥ 15 years

62/83

74.70

Ref

  < 15 years

9/10

90.00

1.20 (0.94–1.53)

0.13*

0.50 (0.73–3.43)

0.48

Gender

 Male

49/61

68.75

Ref

 Female

22/32

80.33

1.17 (0.89–1.52)

0.25*

1.79 (0.88–3.63)

0.11

Number of sex partners (last 3 months)

 One partner

45/59

76.27

Ref

 Two or more

26/34

76.47

1.00 (0.79–1.26)

0.98

Oral sex

 No

64/85

75.29

Ref

 Yes

7/8

87.50

1.16 (0.87–1.55)

0.56*

0.48 (0.84–2.75)

0.41

Anal sex

 No

65/85

76.47

Ref

 Yes

6/8

75.00

0.98 (0.64–1.49)

0.94

Sex partner type

 Regular

58/75

77.33

Ref

 Casual

13/18

72.22

1.23 (0.52–2.89)

0.64

Condom use

 No

54/70

81.43

Ref

 Yes

17/23

73.91

0.96 (0.73–1.26)

0.75

STI Syndrome

 VDS/MUS

52/67

77.61

Ref

 GUS

19/26

73.07

1.09 (0.56–1.78)

0.74

Treatment of STI no success (3 months)

 No

66/86

76.74

Ref

 Yes

5/7

71.43

0.93 (0.57–1.51)

0.77

Previous STI in the last 12 months

 No

59/77

76.62

Ref

 Yes

12/16

75.00

72–1.33)

0.89

on ART

 No

53/61

86.89

Ref

 Yes

18/32

56.25

0.65 (0.47–0.89)

0.008*