Effect of community antiretroviral therapy on treatment outcomes among stable antiretroviral therapy patients in Nigeria: A quasi experimental study.

OBJECTIVES: This study evaluates the effect of Community Anti-retroviral Groups on Immunologic, Virologic and clinical outcomes of stable Antiretroviral Therapy patients in Nigeria. METHOD: A cohort of 251 eligible adults (≥18 years) on first-line ART for at least 6 months with CD4 counts >200 cells/mm3 and viral load <1000 c/ml were devolved from 10 healthcare facilities to 51 community antiretroviral therapy groups. Baseline immunologic, virologic and clinical parameters were collected and community antiretroviral therapy group patients were followed up for a year after which Human Immunodeficiency Virus treatment outcomes at the baseline and a year after follow-up were compared using paired sample t-test. All the analyses were performed in STATA version 14. RESULT: Out of the 251 stable antiretroviral therapy adults enrolled, 186 (75.3%) were female, 52 (22.7%) had attained post-secondary education and the mean age of participants was 38 years (SD: 9.5). Also, 66 (27.9%) were employed while 125 (52.7%) were self-employed and 46(19.41%) unemployed. 246 (98.0%) of the participants were retained in care. While there was no statistically significant change in the CD4 counts (456cells/mm3 vs 481cells/mm3 P-0.489) and Log10 viral load (3.54c/ml vs 3.69c/ml P-0.359) after one year of devolvement into the community, we observed a significant increase in body weight (60.8 vs 65, P-0.01). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that community antiretroviral therapy has a potential of maintaining optimum treatment outcomes while improving adherence and retention, and reducing the burden of HIV treatment on the health facility. This study provides baseline information for further research and vital information for HIV program implementers planning to decentralize the management of stable antiretroviral therapy clients.

Prevalence of Anal High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infections Among HIV-Positive and HIV-Negative Men Who Have Sex With Men in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Prevalence estimates of anal high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) are needed in sub-Saharan Africa where HIV is endemic. This study evaluated anal HR-HPV in Nigeria among HIV-positive and HIV-negative men who have sex with men (MSM) for future immunization recommendations. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study to compare the prevalence of anal HR-HPV infections between 64 HIV-negative and 90 HIV-positive MSM. Multivariate Poisson regression analyses were used to examine demographic and behavioral risk factors associated with any HR-HPV infections. RESULTS: The median age of the 154 participants was 25 years (interquartile range, 22-28 years; range, 16-38 years), and the median age at initiation of anal sex with another man was 16 years (interquartile range, 13-18 years; range, 7-29 years). The prevalence of anal HR-HPV was higher among HIV-positive than HIV-negative MSM (91.1% vs. 40.6%, P < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, HIV infection (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR], 2.02; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.49-2.72), 10 years or more since anal sexual debut (aPR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.07-1.49), and concurrent relationships with men (aPR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.04-1.67) were associated with increased anal HR-HPV prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Anal HR-HPV infection is high for young Nigerian MSM, and rates are amplified in those coinfected with HIV. Providing universal coverage as well as catch-up immunization for young MSM may be an effective anal cancer prevention strategy in Nigeria.

Immunological profile in persons under antiretroviral therapy in a rural Nigerian hospital.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa, with Nigeria having the third highest burden of HIV infection globally; efforts are made to increases access to HIV/AIDS care and treatment. This has currently reached rural areas with limited manpower and laboratory evaluation capacity. This review is necessitated by the paucity of interim report on treatment profile in Nigerian rural areas. We report on the immunological profile of patients on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Otukpo General Hospital, a rural Nigerian hospital. This is a retrospective cohort study of patients receiving ART treatment and care, on April 2009, when 2347 patients were under ART therapy. Out of these, 96 patients were selected by simple random sampling from hospital register, with their data abstracted from standardized Ministry of Health registers and facility documents kept at the hospital, and analyzed for descriptive and biometric measures. Ninty-six patients (29% males) with a median age of 35 years, median baseline CD4 lymphocyte count 221 cells/mL, median one year CD4 lymphocyte count of 356 cells/mL and median one year CD4 lymphocyte increment of 124 cells/mL were studied. There is no statistically significant difference in baseline CD4 lymphocyte count when data is disaggregated by type of drug regimen (AZT, D4T and TDF). Fourty-four percent, 23% and 33% of patients were on TDF, D4T & AZT based regimen, respectively (P=0.66). Increment of >100 cells/mL was seen in 64.58% of the reviewed patients. There was a higher CD4 lymphocyte count increment in patients on TDF & D4T compared with those in AZT based regimens (ANOVA; P<0.0003). Multivariate linear regression model showed one year CD4 lymphocyte count, one year increment in CD4 lymphocyte count, WBC count, and absolute neutrophil count to be significant correlates of baseline CD4 lymphocyte count (P<0.0001). Equally, multivariate logistic regression found age, platelet count and CD4 lymphocyte count at 12 months showed to be significant predictors of CD4 lymphocyte increment above 100 cells/µL (P<0.0001). Despite advanced disease presentation and a very large-scale program, high quality HIV/AIDS care was achieved as indicated by good short-term, immunologic outcomes, while TDF & D4T induce higher immunological recovery compared with AZT. This report suggests that quality HIV care and treatment can be effective despite the challenges of a resource-limited setting.