Background: In Tanzania, a report from 37 districts in 10 regions, which involved 101 clinics, indicated that a total of 4304 (37%) children, aged between 0-14 years, who had started treatment, were no longer on treatment. In the absence of treatment, most of the infants and children acquired HIV infection rapidly and progress to severe symptomatic disease and death. In order to facilitate the adherence to ARV among HIV infected children, it is important to understand the factors that affect retention and explore the possible interventions that may improve the current situation. This study aims at determining the factors influencing retention to HIV/AIDS treatment among children attending care and treatment centres in Muleba District-Kagera region, Western Tanzania.
Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study was undertaken, interviewing two groups of participants, those interviewed at the clinics and those who absconded were traced back in the community. The absconders (lost follow up group) were identified from the CTC record at the clinic and then traced back to the community during home based visits.
Results: The study recruited a total of 246 (87%) respondents. Most of participants 142 (57.7%) were from Ruby Hospital while 104 (42.3) were from Kagondo Hospital. It was found that about 61% 9n=150) were continuing with HIV/AIDS care and treatment whereas 39% (n=96) were defaulters. Moreover, insufficient knowledge on the treatment and the distance to the clinics were risk factors for defaulting. It was also found that there was a higher prevalence of defaulters among male children than in female 65 (46.8%) and 31 (29.0%) (X2=8.967, p=0.011). In addition, unmarried care-givers had a higher prevalence of defaulters 60 (47.2%) compared to married care-givers 36 (30.3%) (X2=11.076, p=0.011).
Conclusion: The findings of this study indicate that, there is still a high prevalence of children absconding from treatment. This might contribute to drug resistance, side effects and disease burden among other potential health effects.