TITLE:
Factors Associated with the Unsuppressed Viral Load of Children on Antiretroviral Therapy Followed Up in the Gbêkê Region (Côte d’Ivoire)
AUTHORS:
Tanoh-Aka Aude Hélène, Siallou-Avi Christelle, Yao Kouassi Christian, Adou Leïoh Roméo, Yeboua Kossonou Roland, Sahi Landryse, Amani Alexise, Tuo Wako Tianwa Alice, Gawa Kokora Junior, Asse Kouadio Vincent
KEYWORDS:
Child, HIV, Unsuppressed Viral Load, Compliance, Associated Factors, Côte d’Ivoire
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.11 No.4,
December
8,
2021
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Unsuppressed viral load (VL) in immunocompromised children on
antiretroviral therapy (ART) increases the risk of child morbidity and death.
The aim of the study was to identify factors associated with unsuppressed viral
load in children on ART for the improvement of prognosis. Patients and Methods: this is a retrospective, descriptive and analytical study carried out from July
2015 to December 2019 in the 28 pediatric HIV/AIDS treatment centers supervised
by the NGO IRAA in the region of Gbêkê. It Included children from 0 to 15 years
who were HIV positive, on ART for at least 6 months with at least one viral
load. The variables studied were socio-demographic, diagnostic and
evolutionary. Data analysis was descriptive and analytical with a significance
level of p Results: out of 329 children included, 118 (62
boys, 53 girls) had a non-suppressed VL, i.e. a prevalence of 36%. The mean age at diagnosis was 61 months. The mother was a
small trader (36.4%), illiterate (45.8%). Unsuppressed viral load was
significantly associated with poor nutritional status at the start of treatment
(p Conclusion: Unsuppressed viral load is common in
children on ART in the Gbêkê region. It mainly concerns the child who did not
comply with ART, and whose mother was not followed within the framework of
PMTCT. Strengthening early detection, early initiation of ART, PMTCT and
increased therapeutic education strategies would improve the prognosis of
children infected with HIV.