PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV VIRAL LOAD SUPPRESSION AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG ADOLESCENTS WITH HIV AND ON ART CARE IN KITGUM DISTRICT, NORTHERN UGANDA

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dc.contributor.authorOkidi, Paul
dc.date.accessioned2026-11-02T07:52:10Z
dc.date.available2026-11-02T07:52:10Z
dc.date.issued2026-09-29
dc.description.abstractBackground In Uganda, HIV RNA viral load suppression among adolescents living with HIV remains below the 95% global target, ranging from 68.6% to 81%. Achieving and maintaining viral load suppression is essential for optimal health outcomes and may also contribute to better quality of life (QOL) by reducing HIV-related morbidity and supporting physical, psychological, and social well-being. However, adolescents living with HIV continue to experience challenges that may compromise both treatment outcomes and QOL. Previous studies have reported relatively higher QOL scores in the social and psychosocial domains (71.6%–82.4%), with lower scores in the physical and environmental domains. This study therefore determined the prevalence of HIV RNA viral load suppression and associated factors and assessed QOL among adolescents with HIV in Kitgum District, Northern Uganda. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analytical study between October 2025 and March 2026 among adolescents aged 10–19 years who had received ART for at least one year and had a written HIV RNA viral load result. Sociodemographic and psychosocial data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires, while clinical information was extracted from patients' medical records. Viral load suppression was defined as an HIV RNA viral load <1,000 copies/mL. Descriptive statistics summarized participant characteristics and the prevalence of viral load suppression. Factors associated with viral load suppression were assessed using modified Poisson regression with robust variance estimation to obtain adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Significance of the statistical tests was considered at p<0.05, and quality of life was assessed using Stata version 16. Results: A total of 261 adolescents were enrolled; 137 (52.5%) were female, 146 (55.9%) were aged 15–19 years, with 15 years as a median age (IQR: 13–17). Overall, 190 adolescents achieved HIV viral load suppression, corresponding to a prevalence of 72.8% (95% CI: 66.9%–78.1%). After adjustment for potential confounders, the prevalence of suppressed viral load was 29% higher among adolescents with a CD4+ T-cell count ≥500 cells/mm³ as compared to those with CD4+ T-cell counts <500 cells/mm³ (aPR=1.29, 95% CI: 1.07–1.54; p=0.003). Conversely, adolescents who had experienced ART interruption had a 27% lower prevalence of viral load suppression than those with no history of treatment interruption (aPR=0.73, 95% CI: 0.57–0.92; p=0.008). Overall, 132 (75.43%) adolescents on ART had a moderate quality of life scores; highest score of 72% (IQR: 64%-76% in the physical domain and the lowest score of 67% (IQR: 60%- 74%) in the environmental domain. Conclusions: Viral load suppression among adolescents on ART was suboptimal, with approximately three-quarters achieving suppression. Higher CD4+ T-cell counts were associated with greater viral load suppression, while ART interruption was associated with lower suppression. Most adolescents reported a moderate quality of life, with the environmental domain recording the lowest scores. These findings underscore the importance of interventions that promote uninterrupted ART and address broader factors affecting adolescents’ quality of life.
dc.description.sponsorshipSelf Sponsored
dc.identifier.citation2026
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14270/1103
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherGulu University
dc.subjectPREVALENCE AND FACTORS
dc.subjectHIV VIRAL LOAD
dc.subjectSUPPRESSION
dc.subjectQUALITY
dc.subjectLIFE
dc.subjectADOLESCENTS
dc.titlePREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV VIRAL LOAD SUPPRESSION AND QUALITY OF LIFE AMONG ADOLESCENTS WITH HIV AND ON ART CARE IN KITGUM DISTRICT, NORTHERN UGANDA
dc.typeThesis

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