Determinants of retention in HIV antiretroviral treatment (ART) in the Cameroon International epidemiology Database to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) study clinics: the context of the HIV treat all strategy in Cameroon

INTRODUCTION: retaining patients in antiretroviral treatment (ART) is essential for successful outcomes. Unfortunately, Cameroon continues to report suboptimal ART retention. This study focused on identifying determinants of ART retention in three HIV clinics in Cameroon within the HIV treat all context. METHODS: a medical chart review of 423 subjects who initiated ART between July and September 2016 in the Limbe, Bamenda and Jamot Hospitals. Patients' sociodemographic and clinical characteristics and ART retention data were abstracted using structured paper forms. Chi square test was used to assess bivariate associations. Logistic regression was used to adjust for confounders. P-value was set at <0.05 at 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: the mean age was 40±11 years, and 65.1% were females. Antiretroviral treatment retention after 24 months was 309/392 (78.83%) and 30/423 (7.1%) were transferred-out, 11/423 (2.6%) reported dead and 73/423 (17.3%) lost to follow-up. HIV status disclosure (AOR 0.16 95% CI: 0.05-0.51, p<0.01) and age group 31-50 years (AOR 3.63, 95% CI: 1.04-12.59, P= 0.04) were associated with lower and higher ART retention respectively. CONCLUSION: about a quarter of the participants were not retained in ART after 24 months. Patient-level factors determined ART retention. These factors should be considered in designing strategies to improve ART retention. More research is needed to identify other determinants of ART retention under the HIV treat all strategy.