Abstract:
Introduction: The goal of antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection is to achieve and maintain
virologic suppression. Review of charts of adult HIV positive clients at Tulu Bolo town in public
health facilities shows that about 6.07% of patients failed for first line antiretroviral therapy. As
far as my knowledge there is inadequate information on prevalence and factors of virologic
failure in the study area. Therefore the aim of this study is to assess prevalence and address the
information gap on factors of virologic failure.
Objective: To assess the prevalence of virological failure and associated factors among patients
taking highly active anti-Retroviral therapy in Tullubolo town health facilities, Oromia, Ethiopia,
2022
Methods: Health facility based cross sectional study was conducted at Tulu Bolo town in public
health facilities from September 30, 2022 to October 30, 2022. Total sample sizes of 274 records
of clients were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was cleaned and entered
in to EPI info version 7.2.0.1 and exported to SPSS version 20.0 for further analysis. The
association was identified using binary logistic regression model. An adjusted odds ratio with
95% confidence intervals (CI) was computed to identify the presence and strength of association.
Finally, statistically significant variables were declared at p-value < 0.05 along with 95% CI.
Results: A total of 274 charts of HIV positive clients were included in the study. The magnitude
of virologic failure was 12.8% (95%CI 9%, 17%). Baseline CD4 count < 200 (AOR 6.1, 95%CI
2.06, 18.43), Clients infected with TB (AOR 4.8 95%CI (1.78, 12.96), treatment interruption
(AOR 3.05, 95% CI 1.06, 8.77) and adherence (AOR 3.67, 95%CI 1.39, 9.66) were statistically
significant association.
Conclusions and Recommendation: The overall prevalence of virologic failure of this
study was high as compared to standard. Baseline CD4 Count, TB infection, treatment
interruption and Adherence were significant factors. Health facility ART provider and
HIV/AIDS program manager should give special attention for Clients with history of TB co
infection and CD4 count < 200 needs care and support and providing TB preventive therapy.
