Loss of People Living with HIV/AIDS in the Care Centers of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Abstract

Context: The retention of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) and on Antiretroviral (ARV) in Outpatient Treatment Centers (OTC) remains a major challenge in Africa, particularly in cross-border areas due to the high mobility of the population.Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the reasons behind the loss of patients on Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) after 6 months of follow-up.Methods: This study is a descriptive survey to present the reasons for the loss of PLHIV at the 6 th month of ART in the OTC for HIV in Kinshasa.The population of the present study was HIV-infected adults over the age of 18 on first-line ART in the OTCs included in the study.The parameters of interest followed for the present study were: age, sex, clinical condition and reasons for loss of PLHIV.Results: At the sixth-month medical follow-up appointment, 62 patients had responded and were thus included; 61.3% were women and 38.7% were men.The loss of patient's rate from D0 to M6 was 47.9%.61.8% of patients were at clinical stage 3 according to WHO, followed by 29.1% of patients who were in clinical stage 1. 67.9% had normal clinical status and 28.3% had good clinical status.The most common reasons were respectively travel and lack of contact for 10.5% each; followed respectively by non-respect of appointment dates and fear of blood samplings for 8.8%, each, and forgetfulness for 7.0%.Conclusion: Nearly half of the patients no longer return to the treatment centers where they started.