Abstract:
Background: Late presentation to HIV/AIDS care has adverse outcome on health of individual and community. Late presentation is associated with increased patient mortality and morbidity, healthcare costs and risk of ongoing HIV transmission by individuals unaware of their status.
Objective: The objective of this study is to assess magnitude of late presentation to HIV/AIDS care and associated factors among adult HIV-infected patients on antiretroviral therapy at high client public health facilities in West Shewa Zone 2024.
Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted at public health facilities in West Shewa Zone from Jan01/2024 to June 20/2024. Data were collected through pretested and structured questionnaire using face to face interview approach. Data entry was made using Epi-data version 4.2 and exported to SPSS version 26 for statistical analysis. Descriptive statistics was analyzed by using frequencies measures of central tendency and variability. To identify associated factors of late presentation, each variable in the bi-variable logistic binary regression analysis with p value <0.25 was selected to fit the multi-variable binary logistic regression model. Adjusted odds ratios along with 95%confidence interval were estimated to measure the strength of the association and level of statistical significance was declared at p-value less than 0.05 for final model.
Result: A total of 458 individuals participated in the study making a response rate of 98%. The magnitude of late presentation to HIV/AIDS care among adults on antiretroviral therapy was 332 (72.5%) with 95% CI: (68.2, 76.5). Rural residence (AOR =1.94, 95% CI 1.07, 3.36), age greater than 45 years (AOR=2.4, 95%CI 1.15, 5.00), no formal education (AOR=3.83 95% CI 1.03, 14.32), alcohol consumption (AOR=2.71, 95% CI 1.66, 4.58) and having HIV symptom at diagnosis (AOR=3.03, 95% CI 1.82, 5.02) were significantly associated with late presentation among HIV infected adults on antiretroviral therapy.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The Magnitude of late presentation to HIV/AIDS care among adults on antiretroviral therapy was very high. Residence, age, educational status, alcohol consumption were independent factors associated with late presentation among HIV infected adults on antiretroviral therapy. Therefore integrated efforts should be done on potential associated factors to reduce magnitude of late presentation
