Effect of Covid – 19 on Antiretroviral Treatment Therapy Outcomes in HIV/AIDS Clients at Partners in Hope, Lilongwe
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Date
19-01-22
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Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
Abstract
Type: A retrospective cohort study to study impact of covid-19 on antiretroviral treatment therapy outcomes in HIV/AIDS clients.
Problem: HIV/AIDS remains a big challenge worldwide especially in Southern Africa estimated at 37.9 million while in Malawi it’s at 1.1 million persons. Essentially, Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) have improved the livelihoods of people living with the disease as there is no cure to date but uptake is meeting challenges, at present Covid 19 being the main culprit. As such ART adherence is estimated at 65% thus for Partners in Hope though Malawi as a whole; it’s estimated at 75%. Treatment failure has resulted due to these adherence issues. This adherence level to ART is suspected that it may have dropped from 65% during the covid era as different clients have been switched on treatment regimens, more hospital admissions and, more deaths from those suffering from both HI/AIDS (and on treatment) and covid 19. Therefore, the study aims to effect of covid– 19 on antiretroviral treatment therapy outcomes in HIV/AIDS clients.
Main Objective: To investigate the impact of covid-19 on antiretroviral treatment therapy
outcomes in HIV/AIDS clients.
Specific objectives:
i). To evaluate risk factors of primary study outcomes including sociodemographic
factors with ART outcomes during covid-19 pandemic.
ii) To compare the incidence of primary study outcomes before and during covid 19 pandemic.
Methodology: A retrospective cohort study design will be utilized to conduct this study. 82
participants will be recruited in the study through their patient files by data collectors: nurses and midwife technicians. Viral load results for the 2 years prior and during Covid-19 will be utilized to compare their health outcomes between the two time periods. Data will be collected from viral load registers and patient files through a question checklist formulated by the investigator. Data will be entered in Microsoft Excel and exported into Stata v14.0 for analysis. Permission to conduct the study will be sought from COMREC, Partners in Hope and Lilongwe District Council.
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Keywords
Antiretroviral Treatment Therapy Outcomes