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Research Article: Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics associated with retention in care among adults living with HIV and severe mental illness and reasons for loss to follow-up in Uganda: a mixed-methods study

Date Published: 2023-10-29

Abstract:
Objective This study aimed to determine the socio-demographic and clinical characteristics associated with retention in care and reasons for loss to follow-up (LTFU) among people living with HIV (PLWH) with a known diagnosis of severe mental illness (SMI). Design We conducted a parallel convergent mixed-methods study. The quantitative study was used to determine the proportion and factors associated with retention in care among PLWH and SMI. The qualitative study explored reasons for LTFU. Setting This study was conducted at two the HIV clinics of two tertiary hospitals in Uganda. Participants We reviewed records of 608 PLWH who started antiretroviral therapy (ART) and included participants who had a documented diagnosis of SMI. Outcomes The primary outcome was retention in care. Age, gender, religion, tuberculosis (TB) status, WHO clinical stage, functional status, cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell count, viral load and SMI diagnosis were among the predictor variables. Results We collected data from 328 participants. Retention at 6?months was 43.3% compared with 35.7% at 12 months. Having an unsuppressed viral load (?1000 copies/mL) (adjusted incidence risk ratio (IRR)=1.54, 95% CI: 1.17 to 2.03), being 36 years and below (adjusted IRR=0.94, 95% CI: 0.94 to 0.95), initial presentation at outpatient department (adjusted IRR=0.74, 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.96), having TB signs and symptoms (adjusted IRR=0.98 95% CI: 0.97 to 0.99) and being in lower WHO stages (I and II) (adjusted IRR=1.08, 95% CI: 1.02 to 1.14) at ART initiation were significantly associated with retention in care at 6 and 12 months. Inadequate social support, long waiting hours at the clinic, perceived stigma and discrimination, competing life activities, low socioeconomic status and poor adherence to psychiatric medication were barriers to retention in care. Conclusion Twelve-month retention in care remains low at 35.7% far below the 90% WHO target. There is a need to design and implement targeted interventions to address barriers to retention in care among PLWH and SMI.

Introduction:
In low-income and middle-income countries, HIV is a leading cause of death and disability. People living with HIV (PLWH) are approximately 38?million globally and 21?million in East and Southern Africa. 1 In Uganda, approximately 1.5?million people are living with HIV, with a prevalence and cumulative incidence rate per 1000 population of approximately 6.2% and 3.5 %, respectively, among adults aged 15–49 years. 1 Age-standardised prevalence for mental disorders is about 11?935 per 100?000 people in sub-Saharan…

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