Retrospective trend analysis of HIV viral load suppression among antiretroviral therapy clients in Bauchi State, Nigeria

Abstract

The negative effects of HIV have affected all spheres of public lives such as individual health, economy and the employment opportunity globally. The most common way to tackle the disease is the use of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), this has proved to be an effective way to manage HIV worldwide. The use of ART has substantially suppressed the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Viral Load (VL) and reduced the risk of HIV infection. This study evaluates the trends analysis of HIV Viral load suppression among ART Clients in Bauchi State Nigeria for the year 2017. The study used 18 healthcare facilities providing Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Bauchi State. The population comprises all people living with HIV/AIDS who are residents in the study area of the 18 healthcare facilities and a convenient sampling method were used. The study found that highest number of viral load suppression existed in Toro General Hospital, even though all the sample health facilities considered in the study recorded viral load suppression. The study also tested for percentage proportion of TB/HIV coinfection among people on ART with suppressed viral loads (1000c/mL) and found that in all the 18 healthcare facilities except Jama’are General Hospital, presumptive TB/HIV co-infection recorded higher proportion compare to active TB/HIV co-infection among people on ART with suppressed viral loads (1000c/mL). The study recommends that for UNAIDS target of 90-90-90 to be achieved to help end the HIV epidemics, aggressive strategies should be put in place to improve adherence to ART by patients and access to viral load monitoring should also be improved in order to detect the patients with risk of HIV.