{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T01:47:10Z","timestamp":1773366430516,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":32,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]],"date-time":"2026-03-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1773273600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Viruses"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Viral suppression is a cornerstone of HIV management, essential for improving health outcomes and preventing transmission. However, varying definitions of suppression, ranging from \u22641000 copies\/mL (controlled) to \u2264200 (clinically suppressed) and \u226450 (untransmittable), complicate the assessment of progress toward global UNAIDS 95\u201395\u201395 goals. Our study evaluated progress in achieving viral suppression among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Tajikistan between 2010 and 2024 using cross-sectional data from the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population registry. Viral load was measured using real-time PCR, and suppression was assessed across three thresholds (\u22641000, \u2264200, \u226450 copies\/mL). We examined associations between viral suppression and demographic factors using Chi-square tests and logistic regression models. Across all thresholds, suppression rates remained below the UNAIDS 95-95-95 target goals. At the \u226450 copies\/mL threshold, 77% of males and 83% of females achieved suppression, with males demonstrating lower odds of achieving viral suppression. Regional disparities were evident, with Khatlon and Sughd showing the lowest viral suppression rate (72.2% and 76.8%, respectively) and lower odds of achieving viral suppression compared to Dushanbe. Urban\u2013rural differences were also observed (78.3% vs. 81.1%), though odds ratios using logistic regression models were not significant. Findings highlight persistent demographic and regional disparities, underscoring the need for targeted interventions to achieve equitable viral suppression in Tajikistan. Our findings also highlight associations and do not imply causal inference. In addition, authors acknowledge that interpretation of viral suppression outcomes is limited by the absence of data on treatment regimens, duration, adherence, CD4 counts, and behavioral factors.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/v18030348","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]],"date-time":"2026-03-12T13:12:24Z","timestamp":1773321144000},"page":"348","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Viral Suppression Among People Living with HIV in Tajikistan: A Nationwide Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"18","author":[{"given":"Kamiar","family":"Alaei","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Science, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"},{"name":"Center for Global Health, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5180-9219","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Brian","family":"Kwan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Science, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"},{"name":"Center for Global Health, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Christopher P.","family":"Lounsbery","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Science, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"},{"name":"Center for Global Health, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jamoliddin","family":"Abdullozoda","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population, Dushanbe 734025, Tajikistan"},{"name":"Faculty of Surgery, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Dushanbe 734000, Tajikistan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Salomudin J.","family":"Yusufi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Pharmacology, Avicenna Tajik State Medical University, Dushanbe 734000, Tajikistan"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Patricia","family":"Cortez","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Science, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"},{"name":"Center for Global Health, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-1594-4563","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mannat","family":"Tiwana","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Science, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"},{"name":"Center for Global Health, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Julie","family":"Nguyen","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Science, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"},{"name":"Center for Global Health, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0003-6446-6176","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Hamid R.","family":"Torabzadeh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Global Health, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"},{"name":"School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Arash","family":"Alaei","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Science, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"},{"name":"Center for Global Health, College of Health and Human Services, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA 90840, USA"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"World Health Organization (2023). 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