%0 Journal Article
%T HIV Viral Suppression in Children in a Subnational Antiretroviral Treatment Programme in Nigeria
%A Elon Warnow Isaac
%A Ayomikun Ajani
%A Jalo Iliya
%A Oyeniyi Christianah
%A Danlami Mohammed Hassan
%J World Journal of AIDS
%P 170-185
%@ 2160-8822
%D 2020
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/wja.2020.103015
%X <b> Background: </b> Despite years of Paediatric Antiretroviral therapy in Nigeria,	 the
National implementation plan for the scale up of viral load testing was only	
rece ntly launched. Viral load determination	
is the most important indicator of ART response. <b>Material &amp; methods:</b> First viral load samples were collected from 663 children living with HIV	
between December 2017-Decemb er 2019 aged 0             -             18             years	
on highly active antiretroviral therapy from 4 states within Nigeria. Samples	
were analyzed at a Polymerase Chain Reaction laboratory of the Federal Teaching	
Hospital	 Gombe. <b>Results: </b>Males were 311 (46.9%) and 352 (53.1%) female.
Children aged 0             -             9             years constituted 44.9% (298); 55.1% (365) were aged 10             -             18             years.	
This first viral load was primarily routine in 94 .2% (625); 2.9% (19) of children respectively had suspected clinical  or	
immunological failure. ART combination was AZT/3TC/NVP in 78.1% (518/663) of	
CLHIV; TDF/3TC/EFV in 21.2% (141); AZT/3TC/LPV/rtv in 4  (0.6%). Prior to initiation of routine viral load testing	$0.55
(366/663) CLHI V had received HAART for 1             -             5             years;	
7.8% (52/663) for 6             months but &lt;             1 year;  32.8% (218/663) 6              -             10             years and 4.1% (27) for &gt;10 years. The most	
recent CD4       count before viral load request was ¡Ý1000/¦ÌL in	
24.7% (164) of CLHIV; 500             -             999/¦ÌL in 42.9% (285); 350             -             499 ¦ÌL	
in 11% (73) and &lt;350             ¦ÌL in 21.3% (141) of children. Viral load was ¡Ý1000             c/ml in	
51.3% (340/663) of children. Viral load was &gt;1000             c/ml in	
59.9% (174/311) males and 47.2% (166/352) females.       Viral	
load was significantly lower among females (P-value 0.02). Of children aged 0             -             9             years	
50.3% (150/298) had viral load &gt;             1000             c/ml	
and 10             -             18             years	 52.1% (190/365) (P value 0.660). Viral load was &gt;1000             c/ml in
38.5% (20/52) of children on HAART for 6             months             -             1             year	
and 52.2% (191/366) after receiving HAART for 1             -             5             years.	
52.3% (114/218) and 55.6% (15/27) CLHIV had viral load &gt;             1000             c/ml	
after receiving HAART for 6             -             10 and &gt;10             years
%K Children
%K ART
%K Viral Load &gt
%K 1000 c/ml
%K Nigeria
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=102874