Keywords
HIV; antiretroviral therapy; High Viral load; Enhanced Adherence Counseling; Hawassa; Ethiopia.
Abstract
Background: Viral load monitoring is the gold standard for monitoring adherence and confirming treatment response, while treatment failure is often caused by either therapeutic failure due to ART resistance or poor adherence to treatment. Assessment for viral load suppression (< 1000copies/ ml) is one of HIV indicators therefore monitoring and reporting outcome of ART is very important for the program implementation and monitoring. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess factors associated with high viral load resuppression among HIV patients receiving antiretroviral therapy in Hawassa City public facilities.
Method: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted between September 1, 2017 and June 30, 2020, among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in three public facilities at Hawassa city, Ethiopia. Patients with a Viral Load (VL) > 1000 copies/ml received three sessions of Enhanced Adherence Counselling (EAC) one month apart, after which a repeat VL was done. The main outcome was viral re-suppression following EAC. Structured checklist was used to extract data by reviewing medical records focusing on patient related data (age, sex, and residence), monitoring response to ART (VL, CD4 count, WHO clinical staging), Co-morbidities, adherence, and duration of medication. Data was entered in EpiData version 3.1. and the analyses were done using SPSS for Windows version, 25.0.
Result: A total of 220 records of high viral load HIV seropositive were reviewed and 40% of viral re-suppression was observed. Odds of viral re-suppression observed among patients enrolled in to enhanced adherence counseling (AOR = 2.1, 95% (1.0-4.2)) and who had TB infection (AOR = 0.53, 95%CI (0.2-0.8)).
Conclusion: The study showed low viral load re-suppression prevalence among HIV high viral load patients. Enhanced Adherence Counseling (EAC) had great roll in viral re-suppression and TB infection decreases odds of HIV viral re-suppression. Enhanced Adherence Counseling (EAC) and TB infection prevention is recommended for all high viral load HIV patients
Citation
Dechassa MD, Betru KT, Nune TE (2024) Suppression among People Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Hawassa City Public Facilities, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia. SM J Infect Dis 7: 6.