Factors associated with virological non-suppression among PMTCT mothers accessing art at Mukono health centre IV

Abstract

HAART reduces the risk of mother to child transmission, morbidity plus mortality among HIV-infected PMTCT women. To optimize these outcomes, PMTCT women need to be achieve viral suppression while on HAART. Additionally, over 95% of PLHIV on ART need to have viral non-suppression to meet the UNAIDS third 95 target. There is, however, paucity of data regarding viral suppression status among these women in Mukono District and Uganda as a whole. This study determined the prevalence and factors associated with viral non-suppression among PMTCT mothers accessing ART at Mukono Health Centre IV It was a cross sectional study employing secondary data analysis methods. Quantitative data from archived patient records of PMTCT mothers accessing ART at Mukono Health Center IV was abstracted. A total of 385 HIV-infected PMTCT mothers on highly active anti-retroviral therapy who attended Mukono HCIV between January 2017 and December 2019 was considered. Trained research assistants reviewed all eligible clients’ files and extracted data into the computer using Epi-data version 4.6 and later export it into STATA version 14.0 for data cleaning and statistical analysis. The study findings were presented in tables and figures these guide health policy makers to create guidelines that ensure VL monitoring is done. Majority of the mothers (84.5%) were aged 30years and below and the median age of the mothers was 25years (IQR: 23-29). The prevalence of viral non-suppression was 10.3% (CI 7.4-14). Self-reported poor/fair adherence was associated with Viral non-suppression (OR: 5.02, 95% CI: 1.92-13.14). One of out of every ten HIV pregnant and breastfeeding mothers on ART are virally non-suppressed. Poor/fair recorded adherence is a predictor of viral non-suppression among HIV pregnant and breastfeeding mothers. Mukono Health Center IV should embark on interventions that will improve adherence to ART among PMTCT mother