The Prevalence of HIV Load Suppression and Related Factors Among Patients on ART at Phedisong 4 Clinic, Pretoria, South Africa

Abstract

Background:Globally, the benefits of viral load suppression in improving the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS have been established. In 2010, the South African Government decentralised ART to the primary care level. This study intended to determine the effect of this decentralisation in achieving viral load suppression among patients. Objective:To determine the prevalence of HIV viral load suppression and factors related to the suppression among patients initiated on ART at Pedisong 4 clinic, Tshwane District in Pretoria. Methods:A prospective cohort study was conducted on 98 patients initiated on ART between 01 November 2012 and 30 April 2013. Based on the viral load results, they were divided into those who achieved Viral Load Suppression (VLS), and those who did not (NVLS). Analyses were done using SAS ® (version 9.2) for Microsoft software. A p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results:Ninety patients (91.8%; 95%CI, 84.7% -95.8%) achieved viral load suppression while eight (8.2%; 95%CI, 4.2% -15.3%), did not. Of the 98 patients, 63 (64%) were female. In the NVLS group, the female to male ratio was 7:1 (p = 0.038). There was no relationship between viral load suppression and patients' baseline characteristics, behavioural characteristics and clinical characteristics (p > 0.05). ART adherence reported in both patient groups was ≥ 87.0%. Conclusion:There was good viral load suppression in patients initiated on ART at Pedisong 4 clinic. Patients' baseline, behavioural and clinical characteristics were not related to viral load suppression, necessitating further large sample size studies in various health facilities.

Association between social support and viral load in adults on highly active antiretroviral therapy – Witbank, South Africa

“…Nonetheless, educational level was not associated with viral suppression. This finding concurs with studies done in SA, 17 Spain 25 and Uganda. 26 In contrast, other studies have shown lower educational level to be associated with unsuppressed VL.…”

“…= 10.3). Age was not associated with viral suppression, in keeping with findings of a study done in Ga-Rankuwa, SA, by Mogosetsi et al 17 However, some studies have shown that younger age of less than 35 years was associated with unsuppressed VL, 18,19 whilst older age was more likely to achieve suppressed VL. 20,21 In our study, females were in the majority (72.9%).…”

“…There was high unemployment rate of between 26.7% and 27.6% from the first quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of 2019 in SA. 29 Employment status was also not associated with viral suppression, in agreement with the studies done in SA, 17 US 19 and Uganda. 26 In terms of marital status, the majority of our participants were single and there was no association with viral suppression.…”

“…This study has found no association between gender and viral suppression; this concurs with some studies. 17,24 However, other studies have shown that male gender was associated with unsuppressed 18,22 and suppressed VL; 20 whilst yet in other studies, female gender was associated with unsuppressed VL. 19,21 The study found that a huge number of the participants (83.7%) were at least high school educated.…”

“…This finding is similar to the local and regional literatures. 9,17,21,22,23 The finding may be explained in two ways: the adult HIV prevalence in females is much higher than in males in SA (26.3% vs. 14.8%) as reported in the fifth SA national HIV prevalence, incidence, behaviour and communication survey; 2 in addition, more women than men living with HIV are engaged in care in SA (60% vs. 43%) as reported by Bor et al 4 The association between gender and viral suppression is equivocal. This study has found no association between gender and viral suppression; this concurs with some studies.…”