TITLE:
Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Medical and Paramedical Staff on the Biological Monitoring of People Living with HIV in the Dschang Health District
AUTHORS:
Stephanie Dzene, Bienvenu Nkissi Kamala Gumete, Charles Kouanfack
KEYWORDS:
Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, Healthcare Personnel, Biological Monitoring, PLHIV
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.14 No.10,
October
29,
2026
ABSTRACT: Context: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) remains a major global public health issue, with 39 million people living with the virus by the end of 2022, 67% of whom reside in sub Saharan Africa (UNAIDS). In Cameroon, the prevalence among adults was estimated at 2.7% in 2018 (DHS). Biological monitoring is a key component in the management of people living with HIV (PLHIV), requiring the active involvement of healthcare personnel. Objective: The overall objective of this study was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of medical and paramedical staff regarding the biological monitoring of PLHIV in hospitals within the Dschang Health District. Methodology: The study took place over 8 months, from December 2024 to July 2025, and the data was collected from February 2025 to May 2025. A quantitative descriptive cross-sectional design was conducted among 203 healthcare workers at the Dschang Regional Annex Hospital (DRAH) and Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital (SVPH) as well as from patient records of those followed between December 2024 and July 2025. Retrospective data from DAMA were collected from January 2020 to May 2025. Data collection took place using an exhaustive sampling method, a structured questionnaire, and individual interviews. Due to limited access to other biological tests, only viral load data, systematically recorded in the DAMA (Data Manager Software System) system, were used. Data were entered in Excel and imported into R software for analysis. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) were produced for all variables, and factors associated with insufficient knowledge levels were identified using binary logistic regression, with a significance level set at 0.05. Results: This study showing that the viral load (VL) testing coverage among people living with HIV (PLHIV) was generally high in both health facilities during the study period. At Dschang Regional Annex Hospital (DRAH), coverage was 97.8% in 2020, with 89 of the 91 expected tests performed, and decreased slightly to 93.1% in 2021, with 122 of 131 expected tests completed. At Saint Vincent de Paul Hospital (SVPH), coverage remained consistently high, reaching 99.8% in 2020 (1279/1282) and 98.9% in 2021 (2088/2111). Among the 203 respondents included in the study, 126 from DRAH and 77 from SVPH, 106 (52.2%) demonstrated a good level of knowledge regarding VL testing, while 119 (58.6%) had good attitudes and practices. Conclusion: Efforts are still needed to improve continuous training and strengthen the integration of biological monitoring in the follow-up of PLHIV.