Barriers to viral load suppression among adolescents living with HIV on anti-retroviral therapy: a retrospective study in Tanga, Tanzania

Abstract Background Despite the decreased incidence of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in Tanzania, the number of adolescents living with HIV is increasing. This study aimed to describe factors independently associated with viral load non-suppression among adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) on ART in the Tanga region. Methods We conducted a retrospective study of routinely collected data from ALHIV on ART from October 2018 to April 2022. We extracted data from the Care and Treatment Clinics form number 2 (CTC2) database that included age, sex, BMI, World Health Organization HIV clinical disease stage, marital status, ART duration, viral load suppression, facility level, and Dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen. We did descriptive analysis using frequencies to describe the study participants’ socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was used to identify factors associated with viral load non-suppression (VLS). Viral load non-suppression was defined as viral load ≥ 1000 copies/ml. A total of 4735 ALHIV on ART were extracted from CTC2, then 2485 were excluded (2186 missed viral load results, 246 were lost to follow-up, and 53 deaths). Results 2250 ALHIV on ART were tested for viral load, of whom 2216 (98.62%) adolescents were on first-line ART, and 2024 (89.96%) participants were virally suppressed, while 226 (10.04%) were virally non-suppressed. In addition, 2131 (94.71%) of participants were using a DTG-based regimen; of them, 1969 (92.40%) were virally suppressed. Not using a DTG-based regimen (HR: 9.36, 95% CI 3.41–15.31) and dispensary facility level (HR: 3.61, 95% CI 1.44–7.03) were independently associated with increased hazard for viral load non-suppression. In addition, adolescents aged between 15 and 19 years are less likely to be virally suppressed (HR: 0.55, 95% CI 0.30–0.99). Conclusions The dispensary facility level and not using a DTG-based regimen were significantly associated with viral load non-suppression. HIV intervention strategies should ensure a DTG-based regimen utilization in all adolescents living with HIV, and techniques used by higher-level health facilities should be disseminated to lower-level facilities

Abstracts of Tanzania Health Summit 2020

This book contains the abstracts of the papers/posters presented at the Tanzania Health Summit 2020 (THS-2020) Organized by the Ministry of Health Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC); President Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG); Ministry of Health, Social Welfare, Elderly, Gender, and Children Zanzibar; Association of Private Health Facilities in Tanzania (APHFTA); National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA); Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC); & Tindwa Medical and Health Services (TMHS) held on 25–26 November 2020. The Tanzania Health Summit is the annual largest healthcare platform in Tanzania that attracts more than 1000 participants, national and international experts, from policymakers, health researchers, public health professionals, health insurers, medical doctors, nurses, pharmacists, private health investors, supply chain experts, and the civil society. During the three-day summit, stakeholders and decision-makers from every field in healthcare work together to find solutions to the country’s and regional health challenges and set the agenda for a healthier future. Summit Title: Tanzania Health SummitSummit Acronym: THS-2020Summit Date: 25–26 November 2020Summit Location: St. Gasper Hotel and Conference Centre in Dodoma, TanzaniaSummit Organizers: Ministry of Health Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children (MoHCDGEC); President Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG); Ministry of Health, Social Welfare, Elderly, Gender and Children Zanzibar; Association of Private Health Facilities in Tanzania (APHFTA); National Muslim Council of Tanzania (BAKWATA); Christian Social Services Commission (CSSC); & Tindwa Medical and Health Services (TMHS)