HIV/AIDS: Research and Palliative Care (May 2023)
Virological Outcomes Among Pregnant Women Receiving Antiretroviral Treatment in the Amhara Region, North West Ethiopia
Abstract
Demeke Endalamaw Alamneh,1 Melashu Balew Shiferaw,2 Mekides Getachew Demissie,1 Manamenot Agegne Emiru,1 Tilanesh Zemene Kassie,1 Kindye Endaylalu Lakew,1 Taye Zeru Tadege3 1Virology Department, Amhara Regional State Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 2Infectious and Tropical diseases, Amhara Regional State Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia; 3Neglected Tropical Diseases, Amhara Regional State Public Health Institute, Bahir Dar, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Demeke Endalamaw Alamneh, Email [email protected]: Globally, approximately 35 million people are infected with HIV infection. Sub-Saharan countries contributed 71% of global burden. Women are the most affected groups accounting for 51% of global infection and 90% of HIV infections in children (< 15 years) are a result of mother to child transmission. In the absence of any intervention, mother-to-child transmission has been estimated to 30– 40% that could occur at various periods like during pregnancy, delivery, and post-partum, via breastfeeding. For future generations to be born HIV-free, evidences on the level of viremia and contributing factors in pregnant mothers is important.Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the magnitude of viral non-suppression rate among pregnant women and identify the risk factors associated with viral non-suppression.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 01, 2021 to June 30, 2022, in pregnant women who are on antiretroviral treatment and attending HIV viral load testing in Amhara region viral load testing sites, North West Ethiopia. Socio-demographic, clinical, and HIV-1 RNA viral load data were collected from the excel database. The data were analyzed in SPSS 23.0 statistical software.Results: Overall viral non-suppression rate was 9.1%. In other words, the viral suppression rate was 90.9%. Pregnant women being at AIDS stages III and IV and with fair treatment adherence and suspected testers were statistically associated with increased viral non-suppression rate.Conclusion: Relatively low viral non-suppression rate among pregnant mothers that had almost met the third 90 of UNAIDS target. But, still, some mothers received a non-suppressed viral replication specifically the odds of having a non-suppressed viral load was higher in pregnant women with poor treatment adherence and WHO Stage III and IV and suspected testers.Keywords: virological outcomes, viral suppression in pregnancy, antiretroviral treatment adherence, viremia in pregnancy