Exploring HIV care disparities among foreigners in Taiwan: Insights from a multicenter study (2017-2023).

OBJECTIVES

The proportion of foreigners among newly diagnosed people with HIV in Taiwan has steadily increased. We evaluated HIV care quality indices among foreigners with HIV (FWH) and explored associated factors.

METHODS

FWH who first sought care at 10 Taiwanese hospitals between 2017 and 2023 were included. Information on AIDS at presentation, antiretroviral therapy (ART) prescription, care retention, and viral suppression was collected. Factors associated with these indices were analyzed using logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

We included 144 FWH (median age of 32 years); 74.3% were from Southeast Asia. Overall, 58.3% remained in care at 1 year. Among 94 ART-naïve individuals, 47.9% presented with AIDS and 83.0% initiated ART; however, only 42.6% achieved viral suppression at 1 year. In multivariable analysis, white-collar occupations (vs blue-collar or unemployed) were associated with ART initiation (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.481), while opportunistic infections decreased the odds (aOR, 0.284). ART prescription predicted care retention (adjusted hazard ratio, 6.03), and government-subsidized ART (vs self-funded ART) was linked to higher viral suppression rates (aOR, 3.817).

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial gaps in the HIV care cascade were observed among FWH in Taiwan. Strategies to promote earlier diagnosis and improve care retention are urgently needed.