Rate and predictors of HIV virological failure among adults on first-line antiretroviral treatment in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania.

INTRODUCTION: Monitoring resistance to first line Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial in preventing accumulation of viral mutations following the implementation of the World Health Organization "treat all" initiative. We estimated the rate and predictors of virological treatment failure among adults living with HIV/AIDS in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective cohort study involving adults aged 18 and above receiving first line ART in Dar as Salaam between 2016 and 2018 were recruited using multistage random sampling. Clinical and laboratory data were extracted from Care and Treatment Clinic database-2 (CTC2) followed by participant's interviews. Adjusted Cox-regression modelling was used to determine independent predictors of treatment failure. RESULTS: A total of 340 participants with mean age of 37 were recruited. Overall, 10.59% had virological failure and the rate of failure was 5.24 (95% CI:3.72; 7.27) per 100 person-months at risk with a median failure time of 18 months. Independent predictors of treatment failure were being a male (Adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 2.78, 95%CI:1.16;6.63), having used treatment for less than two years (aHR, 12.48, 95%CI:3.64-22.71) and co-infection with Tuberculosis (aHR 2.1, 95%CI: 1.0;5.9). CONCLUSIONS: HIV virological failure occurs early during treatment in this population. Male clients, co-infected with Tuberculosis were at higher risk of ART failure within two years of treatment. Substantial stride has been made towards the achievement of the last UNAIDS 90 goal but tailored counseling and close monitoring of HIV/TB co-infected male clients following ART initiation could accelerate efforts to close the gap. Further studies on pre-treatment drug resistance mutations are called for.

The Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program: building and transforming the public health workforce.

The Tanzania Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program (TFELTP) was established in 2008 as a partnership among the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MOHSW), Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, National Institute for Medical Research, and local and international partners. TFELTP was established to strengthen the capacity of MOHSW to conduct public health surveillance and response, manage national disease control and prevention programs, and to enhance public health laboratory support for surveillance, diagnosis, treatment and disease monitoring. TFELTP is a 2-year full-time training program with approximately 25% time spent in class, and 75% in the field. TFELTP offers two tracks leading to an MSc degree in either Applied Epidemiology or, Epidemiology and Laboratory Management. Since 2008, the program has enrolled a total of 33 trainees (23 males, 10 females). Of these, 11 were enrolled in 2008 and 100% graduated in 2010. All 11 graduates of cohort 1 are currently employed in public health positions within the country. Demand for the program as measured by the number of applicants has grown from 28 in 2008 to 56 in 2011. While training the public health leaders of the country, TFELTP has also provided essential service to the country in responding to high-profile disease outbreaks, and evaluating and improving its public health surveillance systems and diseases control programs. TFELTP was involved in the country assessment of the revised International Health Regulations (IHR) core capabilities, development of the Tanzania IHR plan, and incorporation of IHR into the revised Tanzania Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) guidelines. TFELTP is training a competent core group of public health leaders for Tanzania, as well as providing much needed service to the MOHSW in the areas of routine surveillance, outbreak detection and response, and disease program management. However, the immediate challenges that the program must address include development of a full range of in-country teaching capacity for the program, as well as a career path for graduates.