FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV RNA VIRAL NON-SUPPRESSION AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS LIVING WITH HIV ATTENDING PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN GULU CITY, UGANDA

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dc.contributor.authorLanyero Ventrina
dc.date.accessioned2026-11-02T07:31:55Z
dc.date.available2026-11-02T07:31:55Z
dc.date.issued2024-05-20
dc.description.abstractBackground: Viral load testing is the gold standard for anti-retroviral therapy (ART) monitoring. Achieving viral suppression is central to abating HIV complication. Evidence suggests that children and adolescents with HIV (CAWH) have much lower viral load suppression rates. However, data on the incidence of viral load non-suppression and its associated factors among CAWH in Northern Uganda is scarce. Objective: To assess the factors associated with HIV RNA viral load non-suppression among CAWH in Gulu city, Uganda. Methods: A retrospective cohort study, utilizing a data abstraction tool to collect information on HIV RNA viral load non suppression at 6, 12, 18, 24 months and at the latest follow-up among 218 CAWH at public facilities in Gulu city. Bivariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify the factors associated with viral load non suppression. Hazard ratio with 95% CI and p-value were used to assess the strength and statistical significance of association. Results: The median age of the 218 participants was 12.5 (IQR: 7-18) years and majority (70.2%, n=153) were female. A total of 99 (45.4%) had viral load non-suppression during the follow-up period. The overall incidence rate of HIV viral load non suppression was 10.3 cases per 100 person-years and the median time to viral load non-suppression was 0.49 years. Age<5 years [Adjusted Hazard Ratio (aHR)]:2.59; 95% CI: 1.30-5.17), poor adherence to ART (aHR:1.96; 95% CI: 1.21-3.17), non-disclosure (aHR:2.19; 95% CI: 1.27-3.80), late WHO clinical stage (Stage III and IV) (aHR:3.07; 95% CI: 1.41-6.69), and having economic challenges (aHR:2.13; 95% CI: 1.32-3.42) were significantly associated with viral non suppression. Conclusion: HIV viral load non suppression among CAWH was high. The time to non-viral load suppression after ART initiation was 6months. Age less than five years, poor adherence to ART, non-disclosure of HIV status, advanced WHO clinical stage, and having economic challenges were associated with viral non suppression. There is need for continuous adherence monitoring and economic empowerment of caregivers of CAWH, with more attention given to children under five years. Keywords: HIV, ART, Viral load, Non-suppression, Children and Adolescents, Uganda
dc.description.sponsorshipSelf
dc.identifier.citation1. Lanyero V, Bongomin F, Ebbs DS, Nantale R, Ochola E. Factors associated with HIV RNA viral non-suppression among children and adolescents with HIV attending public health facilities in Gulu City, Uganda: a retrospective cohort study. Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease. 2026;13. doi:10.1177/20499361261448464
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14270/1101
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherGulu University
dc.subjectHIV
dc.subjectART
dc.subjectViral load
dc.subjectNon-suppression
dc.subjectChildren and Adolescents
dc.subjectUganda
dc.titleFACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV RNA VIRAL NON-SUPPRESSION AMONG CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS LIVING WITH HIV ATTENDING PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN GULU CITY, UGANDA
dc.typeThesis

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