Assessment of Antiretroviral therapy Initiation among pregnant Women under Option B+ Approach; Viral Load and CD4 Count Outcomes in selected Hospitals of West Zone Oromia, Ethiopia: Quantitative Prospective Cohort Study Design
Abstract Abstract Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is effective for elimination of mother-to-child transmission (eMTCT) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, reducing infant mortality and ensuring maternal virologic suppression. While pregnant women require lifelong ART immediately they test HIV positive (“test and treat”) under Option B+ programs, eMTCT programs face challenges and information on the relationship between the time to ART initiation following HIV testing and treatment outcomes is limited in Ethiopia Methods: A quantitative prospective cohort design was employed to conduct the study. Five randomly selected Hospitals providing Option B+ services with routine viral load assessment by Oromia regional Laboratory (ORL) from January 2016 to January 2017 was randomly selected. Bivariate and multivariable analyses were conducted to determine factors affecting the time to ART initiation following an HIV test and logistic regression used to determine the correlation between time and treatment outcomes. Results: The study results produced and evidence of a mean VL (copies/ml) of 197.27 copies/ml. Respondents that were on ART for a shorter period ≤37 months had the least proportion of women 31% were suppressed with VL<1000 copies/ml compared to those on ART for >38 months (58.7%) were suppressed. The median (IQR) CD4 count change or difference among women that had initial and last CD4 was 581 cells/μl and mean of current CD4 count 629.17ceels/ml3 and more than 85.3% had increase CD4 count. Therefore, in this study identified that factors associated with viral load response were poor /fair adherence missing doses in the past month, missing appointments, baseline CD4 and maternal months on ART were statistically significant among HIV positive pregnant women that initiated lifelong ART on option B+ in Ethiopia. Conclusion: The study results demonstrated that HIV positive pregnant women Study results indicate that majority of the respondents 89.7% were suppressed of which 80.3% were undetectable (VL= 0 copies /ml3 and 85.3% had increased CD4 count and 10.3% were not suppressed (VL >1000 copies/ml). Therefore, strategies aimed at improving adherence among women on option B+ are to ensure that these women achieve adequate immunological outcomes. Keywords: ART Initiation Pregnant Women Option B +, Viral Load, CD4 Count