Factors Affecting Retention in Care of Patients on Antiretroviral Treatment in Primary Health Care Center Imon, Obi, Nasarawa State

Author: Clare Chinonyere Anyanwu, Abdulazeez Alao

Abstract

For antiretroviral therapy (ART) to be effective, patients must be kept on it.  Regretfully, some health care facilities continue to report suboptimal ART retention. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the variables influencing patients receiving antiretroviral therapy's retention in care in the primary health care center, Imon, Obi, Nasarawa State, as the case study.  The investigation was directed by four goals, including to investigate the structural, social, and economic factors that impact client retention in ART program treatment at PHCC Imon, as well as the effects of these factors on client retention in ART program treatment at PHCC Imon. Additionally, to propose and execute solutions to enhance client retention on the ART program in PHCC Imon. For this study, a cross-sectional research design was employed; 112 respondents were studied; patients and clients were selected using a simple random sampling technique, and health workers were selected using purposive sampling because they were already familiar with the subject; client data were collected using questionnaires, and health worker data were collected using interview guides.  Excel and SPSS version 25.0 were also used to analyse the data; specifically, bivariate analysis was carried out using chi-square and p-value, as well as graphics that helped with the presentation of the results. According to the study, the retention rate at the primary health care centre in Imon, Obi, Nasarawa State, was 68% in February 2021. The factors that impacted patient retention in care were the following: the long commute to the ART centre; the high patient load and lengthy wait times at the clinic; excessive alcohol consumption by certain patients; the stigma associated with HIV and the failure to disclose one's status to family members and sexual partners; and a lack of medical staff.  However, mechanisms at healthcare institutions must be improved to decrease loss to follow-up, boost adherence, and encourage long-term retention if patient demands are to be satisfied. Based on the study's results, the researcher suggested that patients should always be urged to seek care at the closest facility. The report also recommended that adherence support workers and other health care practitioners play a proactive role in the battle against stigma.  It is important to create strategies that can motivate people to disclose their HIV status more accurately. In order to reduce the strain on healthcare professionals, the researcher suggested that patients be provided access to alternative appointment systems, such as the DSD (Disseminated Service Delivery) model.