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Improvement in mortality and retention among adult HIV‐infected patients in the first 12 months of antiretroviral therapy in Dodoma urban district,Tanzania.
Author(s) -
Tweve Escor N.,
Kayabu David,
Nassari Nahum O.,
Todd Jim
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1111/tmi.12488
Subject(s) - tanzania , antiretroviral therapy , medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , pediatrics , sida , aids related opportunistic infections , viral disease , geography , virology , viral load , environmental planning
Objective To determine mortality and retention in ART programmes in Tanzania, between 2010 and 2013. Methods Retrospective routinely collected data were analysed from people starting ART in the period 2010–2013. Mortality and retention over the first 12 months on ART were compared across the 4 years, and adjustment was made for individual level potential confounders. Results Data from 3844 people (70.6% female) starting ART were analysed. Mortality in the first year declined from 11.4% in 2010 to 4.9% in 2013, and retention after 12 months increased from 77.8% in 2010 to 98.1% in 2013. Mortality was inversely associated with CD 4 count, lowest among those with CD 4 350+ cells/μl [adjusted odds ratio ( AOR ) = 0.03, 95% CI 0.01–0.03], associated with male sex ( AOR = 1.79, 95% CI 1.39–2.31), but not age. Lost to follow‐up ( LTFU ) was lowest among those with CD 4 = 350+ cells/μl AOR = 0.20, 95% CI 0.10–0.30), but not associated with age or sex, and higher in urban health facilities ( AOR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.15–3.09). After adjustment for individual level characteristics, there was a statistically significant yearly improvement in mortality ( AOR = 0.31, 95% CI (0.21–0.44) and LTFU ( AOR = 0.06, 95% CI 0.04–0.10). Conclusion Mortality and retention in the first 12 months on ART have significantly improved over the 4 years from 2010 to 2013. These improvements may indicate better services, earlier initiation on ART , and strengthened systems to provide ART in Tanzania. These results refute the worries that earlier initiation on ART might lead to lower retention in the ART programme.