Prevalence and Determinants of Treatment Failure among Children Living With HIV in Selected Hospitals in Bushenyi District, Uganda.

Background: Human immunodeficiency infections have remained one of the major public health threats globally, with much pronounced effects in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Globally, over 300 children and adolescents succumb to HIV/AIDS everyday with experts and civil societies predicting some loss in HIV gains due to the recent disruption of care and support from USAID. Therefore, this research aimed at determining the prevalence and determinants of ART treatment failure among children living with HIV in Bushenyi District, Western Uganda. Method: ology: This was a hospital based cross sectional study conducted in two selected hospitals in Bushenyi district, Western Uganda. A total of 113 children living with HIV were recruited from hospital records through stratified random sampling from Kampala International University Teaching Hospital and Ishaka Adventists Hospital in Bushenyi district, Western Uganda ( the participants were divided into age strata’s of Results: The period prevalence of ART treatment failure was 48.7% (95% CI: 42.0-60.5). Poor ART adherence (Fischer’s exact test, p value <0.001) and presence of opportunistic infections (Fischer’s exact test, p value <0.001), poor nutrition (Fischer’s exact test, p value <0.001), presence of Pneumonia infections (Fischer’s exact test, p value <0.006) and Hepatitis B co-infection (Fischer’s exact test, p value <0.002) were the factors associated with ART treatment failure. Conclusion: and recommendation : The period prevalence of ART treatment failure was high in our context. Noted factors associated with ART treatment failure included poor adherence to ART and presence of opportunistic infections. Strategies that enhance drug adherence and support, optimal screening and treatment of opportunistic infections among children infected with HIV/AIDS could potentially improve ART treatment outcomes.