Retention and risk factors for attrition in a large public health ART program in Myanmar: a retrospective cohort analysis

Thida, Aye, Tun, Sai Thein Than, Zaw, Sai Ko Ko, Lover, Andrew A., Cavailler, Philippe, Chunn, Jennifer, Aye, Mar Mar, Par, Par, Naing, Kyaw Win, Zan, Kaung Nyunt, Shwe, Myint, Kyaw, Thar Tun, Waing, Zaw Htoon, and Clevenbergh, Philippe (2014) Retention and risk factors for attrition in a large public health ART program in Myanmar: a retrospective cohort analysis. PLoS One, 9 (9). e108615. pp. 1-12.

[img]
Preview
PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (623kB) | Preview
View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0...
 
33
1233


Abstract

Background: The outcomes from an antiretroviral treatment (ART) program within the public sector in Myanmar have not been reported. This study documents retention and the risk factors for attrition in a large ART public health program in Myanmar.

Methods: A retrospective analysis of a cohort of adult patients enrolled in the Integrated HIV Care (IHC) Program between June 2005 and October 2011 and followed up until April 2012 is presented. The primary outcome was attrition (death or loss-follow up); a total of 10,223 patients were included in the 5-year cumulative survival analysis. Overall 5,718 patients were analyzed for the risk factors for attrition using both logistic regression and flexible parametric survival models.

Result: The mean age was 36 years, 61% of patients were male, and the median follow up was 13.7 months. Overall 8,564 (84%) patients were retained in ART program: 750 (7%) were lost to follow-up and 909 (9%) died. During the 3 years follow-up, 1,542 attritions occurred over 17,524 person years at risk, giving an incidence density of 8.8% per year. The retention rates of participants at 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months were 86, 82, 80, 77 and 74% respectively. In multivariate analysis, being male, having high WHO staging, a low CD4 count, being anaemic or having low BMI at baseline were independent risk factors for attrition; tuberculosis (TB) treatment at ART initiation, a prior ART course before program enrollment and literacy were predictors for retention in the program.

Conclusion: High retention rate of IHC program was documented within the public sector in Myanmar. Early diagnosis of HIV, nutritional support, proper investigation and treatment for patients with low CD4 counts and for those presenting with anaemia are crucial issues towards improvement of HIV program outcomes in resource-limited settings.

Item ID: 36699
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1932-6203
Additional Information:

© 2014 Thida et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Funders: Tol Yandana, Global Fund (GF)
Projects and Grants: GF round 9 and 3 Diseases Fund
Date Deposited: 03 Dec 2014 07:44
FoR Codes: 11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111709 Health Care Administration @ 50%
11 MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES > 1117 Public Health and Health Services > 111711 Health Information Systems (incl Surveillance) @ 50%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9202 Health and Support Services > 920204 Evaluation of Health Outcomes @ 50%
92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920404 Disease Distribution and Transmission (incl. Surveillance and Response) @ 50%
Downloads: Total: 1233
Last 12 Months: 93
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page