Time to Increase WHO Clinical Stage of People Living with HIV in Public Health Facilities of Arba Minch Town, South Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy improves time to death and recurrence of any opportunistic infections in peoples living with HIV. But little is known about its effect on time to increase WHO clinical stage. Thus, this study was aimed at assessing time to increase WHO clinical stage and associated factors. Method: Retrospective cohort study was used and the required sample size was 464. Study participants were selected randomly from the list of adult people living with HIV attending the public health facilities for ART. Univariate analysis was used to describe patients’ baseline and follow up characteristics. Kaplan-Meier survival and log rank test were used to estimate survival and compare survival curves respectively. Cox proportional-hazard regression model was used to calculate hazard rate and to determine independent predictors of time to increase WHO clinical stage. Result: A total of 464 patients (232 in each cohort) contribute for 898.12 person years of follow up. The overall incidence rate of increased WHO clinical stage was 16.6 per 100 person years of follow up and the incidence of increased WHO clinical stage was 38.5 per 100 person year and 3.8 per 100 person year of follow up in ART and HAART cohorts respectively. Being on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy and taking prophylaxis at baseline were the identified predictors’ that prevent increment of WHO clinical stage. In contrary being widowed and single marital status, substance use, rural residence and being in age category 45 years and above were independent predictors for increment of WHO clinical stage. Conclusion: Increment of WHO clinical stage was higher in pre ART cohorts. Special consideration should be given for those who are widowed, substance users and aged 45 years and above.