The pattern of loss to follow-up among HIV–infected clients in a tertiary health facility in North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Introduction: Loss to follow-up (LTFU) refers to default from clinic visit more than 3 months after last appointment date. LTFU is a hindrance to successful anti-retroviral therapy (ART) and can potentially worsen the burden of anti-retroviral resistance. Objectives: To identify the prevalence of LTFU and to assess the factors contributing to it. Method: This is a cross-sectional descriptive study of children and adolescents, aged two years to less than eighteen years, seen from 2007–2017 at Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital (DASH), Lafia, Nigeria. Patient clinic register and folders were used to retrieve relevant information such as demographic data, clinical signs and appointments. Data was analysed using SPSS version 20. Categorical and continuous variables were reported in percentages and mean with standard deviation. Results: A total of 450 patients that were initiated in 2007 were recruited for the study. There were 223 (49.6%) males with a male: female ratio of 1:1. Three hundred and forty one (75.8%) patients in this study were under five years old. One hundred and eight (24%) patients were LTFU within the period. There were no significant differences between the median ages and mean weights of males and females in this study. Death did not contribute significantly to LTFU (p = 0.309). Conclusions: The prevalence of loss to follow-up was 24% in this study while the death prevalence was 3.8%. Three quarter of subjects in this study were under five years of age.