Prevalence and factors associated with unsuppressed viral load among children below five years of age living with HIV in Mwanza, Tanzania.
- Mwanza, Tanzania: Tanzania Journal of Health Research & Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences [CUHAS – Bugando] 2022/8/2
- Tanzania Journal of Health Research Volume 23 .
Background: Unsuppressed viral load which is strong indicator of treatment failure can lead to HIV related morbidity and mortality. Children below five years of age have increased risk of unsuppressed viral load due to various clinical and socio-demographic factors. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with unsuppressed viral load among children below five years of age living with HIV in Mwanza, Northwest, Tanzania. Methods: A cross sectional study involving children below five years of age who were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) for at least six months was conducted in four major care and treatment clinics (CTC) in Mwanza region from December 2020 to April 2021. Children were categorized as having unsuppressed HIV viral load if viral load count was more than 1000 ribonucleic acid (RNA) copies/mL. Data were collected using structured pretested data collection tool