Abstract:
Introduction: The global estimate of viral load suppression was different in different age group
and duration of antiretroviral therapy initiation. The proportion of adults with viral suppression
was 44%, 36%, 29% after one, two and three years of antiretroviral therapy initiation. As 90-9090
target
in
2020,
the
third
90
was
90%
of
patients
on
antiretroviral
therapy
would
attain
virally
suppressed,
as
a
result
USAID
reported
that
90%
of
antiretroviral
therapy
initiation
patients
were
virally
suppressed. In Ethiopia after the initiation of 90-90-90 strategy about 87% of patients
have suppressed viral load.
Objective: To assess the incidence and predictors of viral load suppression after the initiation of
dolutegravir among HIV Patients on ART in West Gondar zone, North West Ethiopia, 2022
Methods: institutional based retrospective Follow up study was conduct in west Gondar zone
from July 10 to July 24, 2022. Five public health facilities were selected by lottery method and
proportional sample size allocation was applied for each facility. Data abstraction checklist was
prepared to extract data. Systematic sampling technique was used to reach the sampled chart.
The data were entered, cleaned and coded by using Epi-data and analyzed by STATA version 14.
Kaplan-Meier survival curve, Bi-variable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard model was
used to identify predictors of viral load suppression.
Result: The overall incidence rate of viral load suppression among Dolutegravir initiated patients
were 6.93 per 100 person-months (with 95% CI: 6.33-7.59). The median time of viral load
suppression was 12 months. A patient with employer AHR 1.73 (95% CI= 1.03-2.92), overweight,
AHR=2.93(95% CI=1.35-6.37) and duration antiretroviral therapy less than 12 months AHR: 3.69
(95%, CI: 1.69-9.03) and baseline regimen type TDF-3TC-EFZ AHR=1.9(95%, CI=1.00-3.59)
were significant predictors of viral load suppression after the initiation of Dolutegravir among
HIV Patients on antiretroviral therapy.
Conclusion: In this study the incidence rate of viral load suppression after dolutegravir initiation
was 6.93%. Employer, overweight, baseline regimen types 1e and duration of ART were
significant predictors of viral load suppression after Dolutegravir initiation. It emphasizes the
need for intensive nutritional counseling to improve viral load suppression is strongly
recommended by this study
