Analysis Of The Losses In The Hiv And Aids Care Continuum: A Cross Sectional Study At The Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Western Region

ABSTRACT

Background: In 2017, about 37 million people were living with the HIV infection globally. Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has proven to improve the clinical outcomes of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) by suppressing viral replication. Identifying PLHIV in the population, linking and retaining them in care to ensure viral suppression are stages in the HIV/AIDS Care Continuum (HACC). An analysis of the care continuum usually reveals fall outs of PLHIV from one stage to the other. The aim of this study was to analyze the losses in the care continuum at the ART center of the Effia-Nkwanta Regional Hospital and to assess factors contributing to the losses.

Method: Patient records covering the period January to December 2017 on HIV services at the hospital were reviewed. Folders of PLHIV diagnosed at the hospital were reviewed and data on socio-demographic and clinical information extracted onto a data extraction form. Data analysis was done using STATA v15. Pearson Chi- square was used to determine factors associated with the losses at a significance of p