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. 2023 Aug 15:15:491-502.
doi: 10.2147/HIV.S422173. eCollection 2023.

Proportion of Attrition and Associated Factors Among Children Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Public Health Facilities, Southern Ethiopia

Tamirat Gezahegn Guyo #  1 , Temesgen Mohammed Toma #  1 , Desta Haftu  2 , Mesfin Kote  2 , Fasika Merid  1 , Kebede Kulayta  3 , Markos Makisha  4 , Kidus Temesgen  2
Affiliations

Proportion of Attrition and Associated Factors Among Children Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy in Public Health Facilities, Southern Ethiopia

Tamirat Gezahegn Guyo et al. HIV AIDS (Auckl). .

Abstract

Purpose: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a major global public health concern. Despite the improved access and utilization of antiretroviral therapy (ART), attrition from care among children continues to be a major obstacle to the effectiveness of ART programs. Hence, this study aimed to assess the proportion of attrition and associated factors among children receiving ART in public health facilities of Gamo and South Omo Zones, Southern Ethiopia.

Patients and methods: A retrospective follow-up study was conducted in public health facilities of Gamo and South Omo Zones in Southern Ethiopia from April 12, 2022, to May 10, 2022. The proportion of attrition was determined by dividing the number of attrition by the total number of participants. Descriptive statistics were calculated. A binary logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with attrition. Statistical significance was set at p-value <0.05.

Results: The median age of the participants was 5.5 (IQR: 2-9) years. The proportion of attrition from ART care was 32.4% (95% confidence interval (CI): 27.57% to 37.69%). Death of either of the parents (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.19; 95% CI:1.14, 4.18), or both parents (AOR = 3.19; 95% CI: 1.20, 8.52), hemoglobin level <10mg/dL (AOR = 2.39, 95% CI: 1.21, 4.70), a cluster of differentiation (CD)4 count ≤200 cells/mm3 (AOR = 6.78, 95% CI: 3.16, 14.53), CD4 count 200-350 cells/mm3 (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.16, 6.03), suboptimal adherence (AOR = 6.38; 95% CI: 3.36, 12.19), and unchanged initial regimen (AOR = 6.88; 95% CI: 3.58, 13.19) were factors associated with attrition.

Conclusion: Attrition from care is identified to be a substantial public health problem. Therefore, designing interventions to improve the timely tracing of missed follow-up schedules and adherence support is needed, especially for children with either/both parents died, unchanged initial regimen, low CD4, and/or low hemoglobin level.

Keywords: Ethiopia; antiretroviral therapy; attrition; children; proportion.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
A flow chart of recruitment among children receiving ART in Gamo and South Omo Zones public health facilities, Southern Ethiopia, 2022.
None
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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