Predictors of Loss to Follow Up and Mortality Among Children ?12 Years Receiving Anti Retroviral Therapy During the First Year at a Referral Hospital in Bali

Abstract

Background and purpose: Many HIV-infected children in Bali have started antiretroviral therapy (ART), but loss to follow up (LTFU) is a continuing concern, and the issue of childhood adherence is more complex compared to adults.Methods: This was a retrospective study among cohort of 138 HIV+ children on ART in Sanglah General Hospital, Denpasar, Bali from January 2010 to December 2015. Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to describe incidence and median time to LTFU/mortality and Cox Proportional Hazard Model was used to identify predictors. Variables which were analysed were socio-demographic characteristics, birth history, care giver and clinical condition of the children.Results: Mean age when starting ARV therapy was 3.21 years. About 25% experienced LTFU/death by 9.1 month resulting in an incidence rate of 3.28 per 100 child month. The higher the WHO stage, the higher the risk for LTFU/mortality along with low body weight (AHR=0.90; 95%CI: 0.82-0.99).Conclusion: Clinical characteristics were found as predictors for LTFU/mortality among children on ART