Undetectable equals untransmissible: knowledge, attitude, and practice among HIV-negative clients attending selected health facilities in Rwanda

Abstract

HIV/AIDS epidemic continues to challenge public health, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). In 2018, the UNAIDS launched the Undetectable equals Untransmissible (U=U) approach which states that people living with HIV (PLHIV) on antiretroviral treatment (ART) with undetectable viral load in the blood circulation, do not transmit HIV to their sexual partners.  We conducted a cross-sectional study for knowledge, attitudes, and practice (KAP) toward U=U in HIV-negative clients in Rwanda, of the 380 study participants. 6.3%, 5.8, % and 4.7% of the participants had good knowledge, attitudes, and practice toward the U=U phenomenon, respectively. This study presents low KAP levels on U=U among the general HIV-negative population in Rwanda and underscores the need to enhance public health communication on this phenomenon to maximize its benefits in the HIV response.