Abstract: Background: For unsuppressed viral load count, World Health Organization (WHO) currently encourages enhanced adherence counseling (EAC) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) before switching the treatment to the second-line regimen. This study aimed to assess viral load suppression after EAC and its predictors among clients on ART. Methods: Institutional-based retrospective cohort study design was used to assess viral load suppression after EAC and its predictors among 175 high viral load and 175 virally suppressed HIV seropositive clients in selected public health centers at Lideta sub-city from November 2019 to December 2022. The magnitude of viral load suppression was determined by proportion. For comparing the probability of viral load suppression Kaplan–Meier curve was used. Cox-regression was used to identify predictors of viral resuppression after EAC. Result: The overall viral load suppression after EAC was 76.2% while viral load suppression among exposed and unexposed group were 72.6% and 80% respectively. The median time to complete the EAC of exposed group was 3 months. In this study, participants who were on ART for more than 12 months had more probability of viral load suppression (13-35 months AHR=6.586, 95% CI: 3.307-13.117, 36-59 months AHR=6.826, 95% CI: 4.316-10.796, ≥60 months AHR=6.596, 95% CI: 4.485-9.700) when compared with ART experience ≤ 12 months. Participants who had not disclosed their serostatus, had history of ART drug discontinuation, were free of opportunistic infection and daily laborer had more viral load suppression, too. Conclusion: This study showed that viral suppression after enhanced adherence counseling was greater than the WHO’s finding (70%) but still below United Nations’ 90-90-90 target. The study findings showed gaps in dalliance of completing recommended time of EAC with repeat viral load testing and needs another assessment with issue of groups’ comparison.
Abstract: Background: For unsuppressed viral load count, World Health Organization (WHO) currently encourages enhanced adherence counseling (EAC) for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seropositive people on antiretroviral therapy (ART) before switching the treatment to the second-line regimen. This study aimed to assess viral load suppression after EAC and ...Show More
