HIV virological non-suppression and its associated factors in children on antiretroviral therapy at a major treatment centre in Southern Ghana: a cross-sectional study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Children living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection require lifelong effective antiretroviral therapy (ART). The goal of ART in HIV-infected persons is sustained viral suppression. There is limited information on virological non-suppression or failure and its associated factors in children in resource limited countries, particularly Ghana.

METHODS:

A cross-sectional study of 250 children aged 8 months to 15 years who had been on ART for at least 6 months attending the Paediatric HIV clinic at Korle Bu Teaching hospital in Ghana was performed. Socio-demographic, clinical, laboratory and ART Adherence related data were collected using questionnaires as well as medical records review. Blood samples were obtained for viral load and CD4+ count determination. Viral load levels > 1000 copies/ml on ART was considered virological non-suppression. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with virological non-suppression.

RESULTS:

The mean (±SD) age of the study participants was 11.4 ± 2.4 years and the proportion of males was 53.2%. Of the 250 study participants, 96 (38.4%) had virological non-suppression. After adjustment for significant variables, the factors associated with non-suppressed viral load were female gender (AOR 2.51 [95% CI 1.04-6.07], p = 0.041), having a previous history of treatment of tuberculosis (AOR 4.95 [95% CI 1.58-15.5], p = 0.006), severe CD4 immune suppression status at study recruitment (AOR 24.93 [95% CI 4.92-126.31], p < 0.001) and being on a nevirapine (NVP) based regimen (AOR 7.93 [95% CI 1.58-1.15], p = 0.005).

CONCLUSION:

The prevelance of virological non-suppression was high. Virological non-suppression was associated with a previous history of TB treatment, female gender, severe CD4 immune suppression status at study recruitment and being on a NVP based regimen. Early initiation of ART and phasing out NVP-based regimen might improve viral load suppression in children. In addition, children with a history of TB may need focused measures to maximize virological suppression.

• Authors: Adwoa K A Afrane, Bamenla Q Goka, Lorna Renner, Alfred E Yawson, Yakubu Alhassan, Seth N Owiafe, Seth Agyeman, Kwamena W C Sagoe, Awewura Kwara
• Journal: BMC infectious diseases (BMC Infect Dis) Vol. 21 Issue 1 Pg. 731 (Aug 02 2021) ISSN: 1471-2334 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 34340689 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021. The Author(s).

Chemical References

• Anti-HIV Agents
• Nevirapine

Topics

• Adolescent
• Anti-HIV Agents (therapeutic use)
• CD4 Lymphocyte Count
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Female
• Ghana
• HIV (isolation & purification)
• HIV Infections (complications, drug therapy, virology)
• Humans
• Infant
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Nevirapine (therapeutic use)
• Risk Factors
• Sex Factors
• Treatment Failure
• Tuberculosis (complications)
• Viral Load