TITLE:
Quantification of Plasma HIV Viral Load at the National Referral University Hospital in N’Djamena
AUTHORS:
Joseph Mad-Toïngué, Mahamat Ali Ahmat, Mahamat Idriss Mahamat, Arafa Atteib Yacoub
KEYWORDS:
Quantification, HIV, Antiretroviral
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Infectious Diseases,
Vol.16 No.2,
June
29,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Measuring HIV viral load allows for an assessment of the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy. The objective of this study is to evaluate the outcomes of follow-up care for people living with HIV at the National University Hospital. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study. Data were collected through a campaign conducted throughout 2024. The information gathered focused on patients’ sociodemographic characteristics, antiretroviral therapy, and HIV viral load results. Data were entered and analyzed using EpiInfo version 6.0. Results: During 2024, 385 HIV-infected patients who had been receiving antiretroviral therapy for at least one year were seen at the outpatient clinic and had samples collected for HIV viral load quantification. This included 257 women and 128 men, for a sex ratio of 0.49. The average age was 40 years, and married individuals accounted for 50.1% of the patients. The earliest year of treatment initiation was 1994, and 63% of those tested had started treatment within the last 10 years. The undetectability rate was 72%. Conclusion: Access to viral load testing is limited despite the importance of this test. Improving performance requires the availability of functional equipment and the involvement of response stakeholders at various levels.