Socio-clinical Characteristics Of Patients On Antiretroviral Treatment In Tulu Bolo South-central Ethiopia From December 2008 To August 2019

The discovery of antiretroviral treatment (ART) substantially reduced the burden of HIV/AIDS and improved the life quality of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). However, ART effectiveness is subject to various determinants, and regular monitoring of the clinic-characteristics data of attendants is recommended. This study was aimed at analyzing the socio-clinical characteristics of patients on ART at Tulu Bolo Health Center (TBHC) and Tulu Bolo General Hospital (TBGH) in Becho woreda district (south-central Ethiopia) from December 2008 to August 2019. Overall, 538 PLHIV (M=229, F=309) were registered during the last twelve-year at the ART center of both facilities .The retrospective data was collected by tally method from the ―voluntary counseling and Testing Registration Log Book‖ and from quarterly reporting formats of the health institution. The research sites were identified,Socio-clinical data were collected , measurements were made, and analysis of data was made. Heteromantic mode of transmission was the known way in the area and pulmonary tuberculosis was the most common opportunistic infection. Many of the participants (212(39.4%)) were 40 years and above. Overall, the data demonstrates age-dependent increase in the number of PLHIV in the facilities. The proportion of rural ART followers (265(49.3%)) was nearly the same as the urban residents (273(50.7%)). The number of underweight participants decreased from 62(11.0%) to 12(2.2%). The pooled viral load test results showed that 468(93.9%) out of the tested 498 was undetectable. In some few patients although the viral load was detectable, their health status was good. The number of participants having CD4 count below 350 before ART initiation was 358(66.5%) and this number substantially dropped to 54(10.1%) after ART initiation. Correspondingly, 502(92.5%) participants were in the WHO stage I, 26(5.7%) stage II and 10(1.8%) stage III. Majority of the participants (335(61.7%)) had a follow-up period of ≥4 years, 107(21.1%) 3 years, 55(9.9%) 2 years and 41(7.3%) 1 year. During the overall follow-up period, 50 died, 51 lost-to-follow-up and 43 were transferred. The highest number of PLHIV registered in TBGH was in 2017 and in TBHC in 2015. The data in the rest years were up and down with no clear pattern of gender-based distribution. ART adherence of 483(89.2%) participants was good and the clinical status of the participants was good. ART adherence of 483(89.2%) participants was good and the clinical status of the participants was good. Although the overall clinical characteristics of the patients was considered good because of good adherence, awareness creation and training more healthcare workers must be done to support especially those in the rural area.

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