| dc.description.abstract | Introduction
Uganda has a 0.5% prevalence of HIV among children aged 0-14 years corresponding 95,000 children living with HIV. The country has adopted and scaled up the global approach to HIV treatment and control packaged in the HIV continuum of care among which is viral load suppression. Despite these interventions, there is still a high viral load non-suppression among vulnerable groups like children compared to the general population. Therefore, this study aims at assessing the individual, social and health system factors associated to HIV viral load non suppression among children aged 1-15 years of age.
General objective
To assess the individual, social and health systems factors associated with viral load non suppression among children aged 1-15 years of age living with HIV in Nakawa Division, Kampala City so as to create new knowledge, and provide information for creating interventions and policies to improve HIV treatment and care.
Methodology
A cross sectional study was conducted among a sample 272 children aged 1-15 at Reach Out Mbuya Initiative. Data was collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires, cleaned using MS Excel 2016 and analyzed using STATA 15.0 statistical software. Descriptive analyses and association between the outcome variable (viral load non suppression) and associated factors were carried out.
Results
A total of 272 children participated in the study. Less than a third of the participants, 28.0% (77/272) had unsuppressed viral load. Respondents with both parents alive were 1.87 times more likely to have an unsuppressed viral load as compared to those who had lost at least one of their parents. Those that were not attending school were 1.67 times more likely to have an unsuppressed viral load than those attending school. Respondents whose caregivers had attained secondary education level were also 64% less likely to have an unsuppressed viral load as compared to those who had attained primary education.
Respondents who had never missed pills were 88% less likely to have a non-suppressed viral load than any other respondents. Those who had never missed a clinic appointment and refill were 64% less likely to have a non-suppressed viral load than any other patients; and those whose period on ARVs was above 10 years were 63 % less likely to have a non-suppressed viral load than their counter parts. Patients on the second and third line of treatment were about 1.90 times less likely to have non suppressed viral load than those on first line treatment. Those with care takers who receive health education once a month were 4.43 times more likely to have non suppressed viral load than care takers receiving health education on every visit.
Conclusion
These study findings revealed that the prevalence of viral load non suppression is high. Factors such as; having both parents alive, patients not attending school; being on the second and third line of treatment were the factors positively associated with viral load non suppression. In addition, respondents with care takers who receive health education once a month were more likely to have non suppressed viral load than care takers receiving health education on every visit. While, never missing pills, not missing a clinic appointment and refill, caregivers attaining at least secondary education level were negatively associated to a non-suppressed viral load. In addition, Participants whose period on ARVs was above 10 years were less likely to have a non-suppressed viral load than their counter parts. Therefore, routine health education about adherence to ART should be carried out at the facilities and communities to improve adherence thus suppressing the viral load.
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