Auxillia Masunda
Africa University, Zimbabwe
Title: Factors associated with virological failure among adolescents on antiretroviral therapy in Bindura and Shamva Districts, 2017
Biography
Biography: Auxillia Masunda
Abstract
Introduction & Aim: Virological failure is a public health problem in resource constrained settings. A review of clinical data between January and June 2017 in Bindura and Shamva Districts revealed that 120 (49.6%) of the 200 HIV positive adolescents had virological failure. This may threaten the attainment of the target of 90% viral load suppression by the year 2020. Therefore a study is to determine the factors associated with virological failure among adolescents in Bindura and Shamva districts were done.
Materials & Methods: A 1:1 unmatched case-control study was conducted. A case was an adolescent from Bindura and Shamva Districts who has been on ART for at least 6 months and had a repeat viral load of >1000 copies/ml. Pretested interview administered questionnaire was used to collect data randomly from participants. Ethical approval was obtained from the Medical Research Council of Zimbabwe. Logistic regression was done to identify independent risk factors.
Results: We recruited 164 study participants (82 cases and 82 controls). Significant independent risk factors for virological failure among adolescents in Shamva and Bindura were: psychosocial problems (AOR=3.01, 95%, CI=2.56-5.60), being on ART for more than 5 years (AOR 2.3, 95%, CI=2.8-10.8) and a baseline viral load of more than 1000 copies/ml (AOR 2.7, 95%CI=1.7-4.2). Having a treatment buddy (AOR=0.06, 95% CI=0.001-0.4) was the most significant protective factor.
Conclusion: Psychosocial problems were strongly associated with virological failure among adolescents in Shamva and Bindura Districts. We recommended on strengthening community programs on disclosure of HIV among adolescents to improve treatment outcomes.