Factors Associated With Retention in Care Among Patients Receiving Antiretroviral Therapy at Pantang Hospital, Ghana.

Abstract

Background: For effective outcomes of Anti-retroviral therapy (ART), people who are diagnosed of HIV and linked to care must remain in care and subsequently go through each step of the care continuum. However, persons are lost to follow-up at each stage of the continuum due to reasons including psychological, socioeconomic and health systems ineffectiveness. This study determined the factors associated with Retention of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in care at Pantang Hospital. Method: The study design was cross-sectional. 289 PLHIV were sampled and data was extracted from their medical records and interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire Analyses was done using Excel and STATA where frequencies, proportions, percentages, bivariable and multivariable regression analyses were performed. Results: Out of the 289, 202 representing 70% were retain in Care. The chi-square test revealed that age, occupation, TB-screening, presence of opportunistic infection, WHO clinical stage of the disease were significantly associated with retention at 12 months. Participants who were self-employed were 11 times more likely to be retained in care (AOR=11.00, CI (2.55-74.71), P-value<0.05). Absence of Opportunistic infection reduces the odds of being retained in care by 69% (AOR= 0.03, CI=0.09-1.00 p-value=0.051) Conclusion: About 70% (202/289) of PLHIV at Pantang ART clinic are retain in care. Retention is associated with age, self-employment, TB screening, opportunistic infection and clinical stage of the disease.