1. Viral load care of HIV-1 infected children and adolescents: A longitudinal study in rural Zimbabwe.
- Author
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Mapangisana, Tichaona, Machekano, Rhoderick, Kouamou, Vinie, Maposhere, Caroline, McCarty, Kathy, Mudzana, Marceline, Munyati, Shungu, Mutsvangwa, Junior, Manasa, Justen, Shamu, Tinei, Bogoshi, Mampedi, Israelski, Dennis, and Katzenstein, David
- Subjects
HIV-positive children ,VIRAL load ,REVERSE transcriptase inhibitors ,LONGITUDINAL method ,TEENAGERS ,RURAL children - Abstract
Introduction: Maintaining virologic suppression of children and adolescents on ART in rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa is challenging. We explored switching drug regimens to protease inhibitor (PI) based treatment and reducing nevirapine and zidovudine use in a differentiated community service delivery model in rural Zimbabwe. Methods: From 2016 through 2018, we followed 306 children and adolescents on ART in Hurungwe, Zimbabwe at Chidamoyo Christian Hospital, which provides compact ART regimens at 8 dispersed rural community outreach sites. Viral load testing was performed (2016) by Roche and at follow-up (2018) by a point of care viral load assay. Virologic failure was defined as viral load ≥1,000 copies/ml. A logistic regression model which included demographics, treatment regimens and caregiver's characteristics was used to assess risks for virologic failure and loss to follow-up (LTFU). Results: At baseline in 2016, 296 of 306 children and adolescents (97%) were on first-line ART, and only 10 were receiving a PI-based regimen. The median age was 12 years (IQR 8–15) and 55% were female. Two hundred and nine (68%) had viral load suppression (<1,000 copies/ml) and 97(32%) were unsuppressed (viral load ≥1000). At follow-up in 2018, 42/306 (14%) were either transferred 23 (7%) or LTFU 17 (6%) and 2 had died. In 2018, of the 264 retained in care, 107/264 (41%), had been switched to second-line, ritonavir-boosted PI with abacavir as a new nucleotide analog reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI). Overall viral load suppression increased from 68% in 2016 to 81% in 2018 (P<0.001). Conclusion: Viral load testing, and switching to second-line, ritonavir-boosted PI with abacavir significantly increased virologic suppression among HIV-infected children and adolescents in rural Zimbabwe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2021
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