Abstract
OBJECTIVES
The objective of this study was to estimate the retention rate of patients in an ART program and identify the predictors of attrition.
METHODS
This was a historical cohort study of HIV patients who started ART between September 2007 and April 2020, and were followed up on for at least 6 months in nine large-volume sites. Kaplan Meier techniques were used to estimate cumulative retention and attrition probabilities. Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify predictors of attrition.
RESULTS
The cumulative probability of retention at 12 and 24 months was 76.2% and 70.2%, respectively. The attrition rate after a median follow-up time of 3.1 years was 35.2%, or an incidence of 11.4 per 100 person-years. Having initiated ART between 2012 and 2015; unmarried status; having initiated ART with CD4 count <100 cells/µL; and having initiated ART at an advanced clinical stage were factors significantly associated with attrition.
CONCLUSION
The retention rate in our study is much lower than the proposed national target (90%). Studies to understand the reasons for loss to follow-up are needed.
