Conference abstract

Examining the virial load suppression in patients on antiretroviral treatment in Opuwo District, Kunene Region, Namibia among 2013-2015, treatment cohort

Pan African Medical Journal - Conference Proceedings. 2017:3(11).13 Oct 2017.
doi: 10.11604/pamj-cp.2017.3.11.105
Archived on: 13 Oct 2017
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Keywords: HIV, viral load, suppression, antiretroviral treatment, kunene
Oral presentation

Examining the virial load suppression in patients on antiretroviral treatment in Opuwo District, Kunene Region, Namibia among 2013-2015, treatment cohort

Iyaloo Mwaningange1, Kofi Nyarko1,&

1Namibia Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Windhoek, Namibia

&Corresponding author
Kofi Nyarko, Namibia Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program, Windhoek, Namibia

Abstract

Introduction: HIV viral load testing measures the amount of HIV Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) in the blood and reports how many copies of the viruses are present. Namibia has HIV prevalence of 18% and 144,496 estimated adults living with HIV are receiving Antiretroviral Treatment (ART). Kunene Region has estimated 2,567 people on ART. The Namibian guidelines recommend that viral load testing should be done 6 months after initiating ART and thereafter annually for people who have achieved viral suppression. The objective of this secondary data analysis was to describe the viral load suppression among ART patients and to identify the risk factors for non-suppression among patients initiated on ART in Opuwo District.

Methods: we conducted retrospective descriptive study by analyzing the facility data for the period of 2013 to 2015. We extracted the latest viral load results from patient care booklets and line listed using Microsoft Excel and Epi info. Viral load of > 40.00 copies was defined as a failed suppression. We generated frequencies, mean and proportions using Epi info and Microsoft excel. We determined statistical significance at p < 0.05.

Results: out of 358 registered patients, 225 (63%) had documented viral load. In the patients care booklets, 155(69%) patients had suppressed viral and 71(31%) unsuppressed viral load. The mean viral load was 26858.08 copies; range from 0 to 1222041.00 copies. Being a pediatric patient was significantly associated with unsuppressed viral load [OR = 8.45, 95% CI 1.69- 42.19], (P = 0.000). Distance from the health facility, sex of the patient and year of enrollment did not influence the viral load outcomes.

Conclusion: most of patients have suppressed viral load, however, children are more likely to have an immunological failure. We recommend strengthening the treatment adherence and treatment monitoring to all pediatric patients.