Factors Associated with Adverse Therapeutic Outcomes in People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Monitored in Roi Baudouin Health Care Center, Dakar, Senegal

Background: Optimizing antiretroviral therapy is an essential step to reach the 90 - 90 - 90 targets. Despite tremendous progress made for antiretroviral treatment (ART) to be accessible in countries with limited resources, health care providers continue to face challenges due to the under-optimization of ART due to therapeutic failures and poor retention. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of adverse therapeutic outcomes in a decentralized health care center and to determine associated factors. Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study targeting PLHIV, aged 18 years and over, on first line antiretroviral treatment (ART), monitored onsite from February 1st to December 31st, 2018. A data collection form was completed from medical records (clinical, immuno-virological, therapeutic and evolutionary). Data were also collected from interviews with patients for additional socio-demographic information including the level of HIV knowledge. Data were captured and analyzed using EPI 2002 and R software. Proportions were compared using the chi -square and Fisher tests and logistic regression. A value of p < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 331 patients were enrolled with HIV-1 profile in 89% of the cases. A proportion of 55% was married and 98% came from the rural area. 80% were either not or poorly educated. The median of age was 44 ± 11 years with a F/M ratio of 3.5. 30% that had not shared their HIV status, and more than half had a low knowledge of HIV transmission. At baseline, 56% were symptomatic at WHO stage 3 or 4. They had severe immunosuppression with a median CD4 count of 217 ± 187 cells/mm3;the viral load was detectable in half of the patients with a median viral load (VL) of 97,000 ± 70,569 cp/ml. The antiretroviral regimens combined 2 nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NRTI) with 1 no nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) in 88% of the cases. The median duration of follow-up was estimated at 60 ± 43 months. The prevalence of adverse therapeutic outcomes was 36% (119 patients). The proportion of virological failure was 19%, lost follow up was 20% and the mortality was 4%. The adverse therapeutic outcomes were associated with the age less than 25 years (p = 0.007) and with a late diagnosis (CD4 T cells at baseline less than 200 cell/mm3, p = 0.02). Conclusion: These results suggest the need to make new therapeutic classes available for first-line treatment and to promote actions improving retention in care.

HIV Infection in Senegalese Prisons: Prevalence and Associated Factors

HIV/AIDS is a serious health problem among prisoners and constitutes a big challenge for prison administration services, public health services and governments. Aims: Determine the prevalence of HIV infection among prisoners and describe associated factors. Population and Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted from December 2015 to October 2016. A sample of 600 prisoners was randomly interviewed nationwide. They were selected directly from the sample frame from across the country and proportionally from all sites. Pre-established questionnaires providing information on the sociodemographic and biological characteristics of prisoners were used for the collection of data. Data entry and analysis were performed using EXCEL and SPSS 18 software. Results: The survey was based on a randomised sample of 600 prisoners, 593 of whom accepted blood extraction for the HIV testing. The series was mainly composed of males (89%). The median age was 33 years (18 - 69). The level of education among respondents was 60%. Regarding marital status, the proportion of married prisoners was 51.8%. Almost three-quarters (71.5%) were at their first imprisonment and 51.8% were on preventive detention. The reasons for imprisonment varied and were dominated by drug use (35.3%), while only 4.6% confessed that they continued using drugs while in prison. 97.8% of prisoners have had a sexual experience. Their median age was 19 years at their first sexual intercourse. 20.5% reported using a condom during their first intercourse. Multi partnership was estimated at 17.8%. The prevalence of HIV infection was high among prisoners (2%), the quadruple of the national rate. This prevalence was associated with female sex (4.5%) (p = 0.012) and housewives (12.5%) (p = 0.002). Conclusion: Prisoners are very vulnerable to HIV infection with a high prevalence compared to the national rate, hence the need for the enforcement of effective HIV prevention and care measures in prisons.

Prevalence and Factors Associated with Virologic Failure among People Living with HIV (PLHIV) Monitored in a Decentralized Health Care Facility

Introduction: In Senegal, the decentralization of Health Care Centers has contributed significantly to the intensification of antiretroviral treatment. However, Care providers are still facing the treatment optimizing challenge. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of virologic failures of PLHIV monitored in a decentralized Health care center and to determine associated factors. Patients and Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study of PLHIV, aged 18 years and over, on first-line treatment, monitored onsite from February 1st to December 31st, 2018. A data collection form was completed from medical records (clinical, immuno-virologic and evolutionary). Any VL > 1000 cp/ml after 6 months of antiretroviral therapy (ART) was considered as virologic failure. Data were captured and analysed using the EPI INFO 2002software. Chi-square test and the Fisher test were used to compare the proportions;a value of p ≤ 0.05 was considered significant. Results: 331 patients were treated with HIV-1 profile in 89% of cases. A proportion of 55% was married and 97% came from rural areas. 80% were either not or poorly educated. The median of age was 44 ± 11 years with a F/M ratio of 3.4. At baseline, 56% were symptomatic at stage 3 or 4 of WHO. They had severe immunosuppression with a median CD4 count of 217 ± 187 cells/mm3, the viral load was detectable in half of the patients with a median VL of 97,000 cp/ml ± 70,569. The antiretroviral regimen combined 2 NRTIs with 1 NNRTI in 88% of cases. The median of follow-up was estimated at 60 ± 43 months. The prevalence of virologic failure was 19%. This prevalence was associated with age less than 25 years (p = 0.04), late diagnosis (CD4 at baseline less than 200 cel/mm3 (p = 0.002), stage 3 or 4 WHO (p = 0.04) High viral load greater than 10,000 (p = 0.04) at baseline. Conclusion: These results suggest making the new therapeutic classes accessible for first-line treatment.