Browsing by Author "Businge, Gerald Bright"

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    Viral Load suppression after intensive adherence counselling among HIV infected adults at Kiswa Health Centre, Kampala: A retrospective cohort study. Secondary data analysis
    (Research Square, 2022) Nakaye, Catherine; Mukiza, Nelson; Mawanda, Denis; Kataike, Hajira; Kaganzi, Hellen; Ahimbisibwe, Grace Miriam; Businge, Gerald Bright; Kyambadde, Raymonds Crespo; Nakalega, Rita
    The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS through the 95-95-95 target requires 95% of people with HIV infection (PWHIV) on antiretroviral treatment (ART) to be virally suppressed. Viral Load (VL) non-suppression has been found to be associated with suboptimal ART adherence, and Intensive Adherence Counselling (IAC) has been shown to lead to VL re-suppression by over 70% in PWHIV on ART. Currently, there is data paucity on VL suppression after IAC in adult PWHIV in Uganda. This study aimed to evaluate the proportion of VL suppression after IAC and associated factors among adult PWHIV on ART at Kiswa Health Centre in Kampala, Uganda. Methods Study was a retrospective cohort design and employed secondary data analysis to review routine program data. Medical records of adult PWHIV on ART for at least six months with VL non-suppression from January 2018 to June 2020 at Kiswa HIV clinic were examined in May 2021. Descriptive statistics were applied to determine sample characteristics and study outcome proportions. Multivariable modified Poisson regression analysis was employed to assess predictors of VL suppression after IAC. Results Analysis included 323 study participants of whom 204 (63.2%) were female, 137 (42.4%) were between the age of 30 and 39 years; and median age was 35 years (interquartile range [IQR] 29–42). Participant linkage to IAC was 100%. 48.6% (157/323) of participants received first IAC session within 30 days or less after unsuppressed VL result. 66.78% (205/307) of participants who received recommended three or more IAC sessions achieved VL suppression. 34% of participants completed three IAC sessions in recommended 12 weeks. Receipt of three IAC sessions (ARR = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.16–1.53, p < 0.001) and having baseline VL of 1,000–4,999 copies/ml (ARR = 1.47, 95%CI: 1.26–1.73, p < 0.001) was significantly associated with VL suppression after IAC. Conclusion VL suppression proportion of 66.78% after IAC in this population was comparable to 70%, the percentage over which adherence interventions have been shown to cause VL re-suppression. However, timely IAC intervention is needed from receipt of unsuppressed VL results to IAC process completion. Resistance testing should be performed for PWHIV with persistent VL non-suppression after IAC for apt ART regimen switch.