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Factors associated with pre-ART loss-to-follow up in adults in rural KwaZula-Natal, South Africa: a prospective cohort study

Factors associated with pre-ART loss-to-follow up in adults in rural KwaZula-Natal, South Africa: a prospective cohort study
Factors associated with pre-ART loss-to-follow up in adults in rural KwaZula-Natal, South Africa: a prospective cohort study
Background: Timely initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) requires sustained engagement in HIV care before treatment eligibility. We assessed loss to follow-up (LTFU) correlates in HIV-positive adults accessing HIV treatment and care, not yet ART-eligible (CD4 >500 cells/mm3).

Methods: This was a sub-study of a prospective cohort study (focusing on sexual behaviour) in an area of high HIV prevalence and widespread ART availability in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Psychosocial, clinical and demographic data were collected at recruitment from individuals with CD4 >500 cells/mm3. LTFU was defined as not attending clinic within 13 months of last visit or before death. Individuals starting ART were censored at ART initiation. Data were collected between January 2009 and January 2013. Analysis used Competing Risks regression.

Results: Two hundred forty-seven individuals (212 females) were recruited (median follow-up 2.13 years, total follow-up 520.15 person-years). 86 remained in pre-ART care (34.8 %), 94 were LTFU (38.1 %), 58 initiated ART (23.5 %), 7 died (2.8 %), 2 transferred out (0.8 %). The LTFU rate was 18.07 per 100 person-years (95 % CI 14.76–21.12). LTFU before a competing event was 13.5 % at one and 34.4 % at three years. Lower LTFU rates were significantly associated with age (>37 versus ?37 years: adjusted sub-Hazard ratio (aSHR) 0.51, 95 % CI 0.30–0.87), openness with family/friends (a little versus not at all, aSHR 0.81, 95 % CI 0.45–1.43; a lot versus not at all, aSHR 1.57, 95 % CI 0.94–2.62), children (0 versus 4+, aSHR 0.68, 95 % CI 0.24–1.87; 1 versus 4+, aSHR 2.05 95 % CI 1.14–3.69, 2 versus 4+; aSHR 1.71, 95 % CI 0.94–3.09; 3 versus 4a, aSHR 1.14, 95 % CI 0.57–2.30), previous CD4 counts (1 versus 0, aSHR 0.81, 95 % CI 0.45–1.43; 2+ versus 0, aSHR 0.43, 95 % CI 0.25–0.73), and most recent partner HIV status (not known versus HIV-positive, aSHR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.50–1.19; HIV-negative versus HIV-positive, aSHR 2.40, 95 % CI 1.18–4.88). The interaction between openness with family/friends and HIV partner disclosure was close to significance (p?=?0.06). Those who had neither disclosed to partners nor were open with family/friends had lowest LTFU rates.

Conclusions: Strategies to retain younger people in pre-ART care are required. How openness with others, partner HIV status and disclosure, and children relate to LTFU needs further exploration.
1471-2458
1-13
Evangeli, Michael
d075d96e-8977-4156-81f3-4da6cb4ed241
Newell, Marie-Louise
c6ff99dd-c23b-4fef-a846-a221fe2522b3
Mcgrath, Nuala
b75c0232-24ec-443f-93a9-69e9e12dc961
Evangeli, Michael
d075d96e-8977-4156-81f3-4da6cb4ed241
Newell, Marie-Louise
c6ff99dd-c23b-4fef-a846-a221fe2522b3
Mcgrath, Nuala
b75c0232-24ec-443f-93a9-69e9e12dc961

Evangeli, Michael, Newell, Marie-Louise and Mcgrath, Nuala (2016) Factors associated with pre-ART loss-to-follow up in adults in rural KwaZula-Natal, South Africa: a prospective cohort study. BMC Public Health, 16 (358), 1-13. (doi:10.1186/s12889-016-3025-x). (PMID:27117271)

Record type: Article

Abstract

Background: Timely initiation of antiretroviral treatment (ART) requires sustained engagement in HIV care before treatment eligibility. We assessed loss to follow-up (LTFU) correlates in HIV-positive adults accessing HIV treatment and care, not yet ART-eligible (CD4 >500 cells/mm3).

Methods: This was a sub-study of a prospective cohort study (focusing on sexual behaviour) in an area of high HIV prevalence and widespread ART availability in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Psychosocial, clinical and demographic data were collected at recruitment from individuals with CD4 >500 cells/mm3. LTFU was defined as not attending clinic within 13 months of last visit or before death. Individuals starting ART were censored at ART initiation. Data were collected between January 2009 and January 2013. Analysis used Competing Risks regression.

Results: Two hundred forty-seven individuals (212 females) were recruited (median follow-up 2.13 years, total follow-up 520.15 person-years). 86 remained in pre-ART care (34.8 %), 94 were LTFU (38.1 %), 58 initiated ART (23.5 %), 7 died (2.8 %), 2 transferred out (0.8 %). The LTFU rate was 18.07 per 100 person-years (95 % CI 14.76–21.12). LTFU before a competing event was 13.5 % at one and 34.4 % at three years. Lower LTFU rates were significantly associated with age (>37 versus ?37 years: adjusted sub-Hazard ratio (aSHR) 0.51, 95 % CI 0.30–0.87), openness with family/friends (a little versus not at all, aSHR 0.81, 95 % CI 0.45–1.43; a lot versus not at all, aSHR 1.57, 95 % CI 0.94–2.62), children (0 versus 4+, aSHR 0.68, 95 % CI 0.24–1.87; 1 versus 4+, aSHR 2.05 95 % CI 1.14–3.69, 2 versus 4+; aSHR 1.71, 95 % CI 0.94–3.09; 3 versus 4a, aSHR 1.14, 95 % CI 0.57–2.30), previous CD4 counts (1 versus 0, aSHR 0.81, 95 % CI 0.45–1.43; 2+ versus 0, aSHR 0.43, 95 % CI 0.25–0.73), and most recent partner HIV status (not known versus HIV-positive, aSHR 0.77, 95 % CI 0.50–1.19; HIV-negative versus HIV-positive, aSHR 2.40, 95 % CI 1.18–4.88). The interaction between openness with family/friends and HIV partner disclosure was close to significance (p?=?0.06). Those who had neither disclosed to partners nor were open with family/friends had lowest LTFU rates.

Conclusions: Strategies to retain younger people in pre-ART care are required. How openness with others, partner HIV status and disclosure, and children relate to LTFU needs further exploration.

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Accepted/In Press date: 19 April 2016
e-pub ahead of print date: 27 April 2016
Organisations: Faculty of Medicine

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 393523
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/393523
ISSN: 1471-2458
PURE UUID: 7a0241f2-05fb-43bf-9fb7-949b669b6798
ORCID for Marie-Louise Newell: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1074-7699
ORCID for Nuala Mcgrath: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-1039-0159

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Date deposited: 28 Apr 2016 11:16
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 03:47

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Author: Michael Evangeli
Author: Nuala Mcgrath ORCID iD

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