Magnitude and factors associated with treatment interruption among HIV positive adolescents in selected public hospitals
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Date
2025
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Addis Ababa Universtity
Abstract
Background: According to United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS report an estimate of
1.6 million adolescents aged 10 to 19 were living with human immune virus worldwide in
2018. Even though antiretroviral therapy programs have expanded rapidly and are now freely
available, treatment interruption remains major public health problem in the country.
Objective: To assess the magnitude and factors associated with treatment interruption among
adolescents living with human immune virus in four public hospitals of Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia.
Method: A cross-sectional study using retrospective record review of patient charts and
computerized medical records was conducted for a period of September 2020 to December
2022. Data was collected from 297 samples which are proportionately allocated in those four
hospitals based on patient flow. Extraction form was used to collect data and data collectors
were assigned from among the medical staff employed by the antiretroviral therapy clinics of
selected hospitals. After being examined, cleaned, and downloaded into an Excel file, the
gathered data was exported to SPSS Version 26.0 for additional analysis. Descriptive statistics
were employed and Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression model were used to identify
associated factors for interruption of antiretroviral therapy.
Results: In this study 17.5% of participants (95% CI: 9.56–33.38) interrupted their
antiretroviral therapy one or more times from their appointments. Oral thrush (AOR=3.34,
95% CI: (1.47, 7.59), not taking Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (AOR=3.42, 95% CI: (1.42,
8.24), one year on antiretroviral therapy (AOR=3.75, 95% CI: (1.47, 9.55)), not taking
Dolutegravir related medication (AOR:3.85, 95% CI: (1.60, 9.27), and world health
organization stages 1 and 2 (AOR=3.50, 95% CI: (1.25, 9.78) and (AOR=3.52, 95% CI:
(1.02, 12.12) respectively were found to be significantly associated with this variables.
Conclusion: nearly one in five adolescents living with human immune virus interrupted their
antiretroviral therapy. To increase ART retention and meet the 2030 HIV/AIDS eradication
strategy, we suggest several key recommendations for ministry of Health and other
responsible program implementers
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Keywords
Interruption in treatment, Determinants, Antiretroviral therapy, HIV/AIDS