Do Adolescents Living With HIV in Kenya Know Their Viral Load Results? Record Audit and Adolescent Exit Surveys in Kiambu and Nakuru Counties: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Abstract: Timely and accurate return of viral load (VL) results to adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) is essential for early detection of adherence challenges and treatment failure. Our cross-sectional study evaluated VL data of ALHIV, ages 15-19 years, enrolled in six care facilities in Kiambu and Nakuru Counties in Kenya. We summarized the proportion of results available in both the electronic medical record (EMR) and the national database. Modified Poisson regression models assessed the relationship between ALHIV characteristics and knowledge of VL results. Of 20% (n = 207) of the charts that were randomly selected, 86% (n = 179) matched the national database source; however, 7% (n = 14) of VL results were missing from the clinic-EMR, and 8% (n = 17) were incongruent between the national database and EMR. Only half (52%) of the surveyed ALHIV (n = 132) reported receiving their last VL result, with older ALHIV more likely to receive VL results than younger (Prevalence ratio: 1.46, p = .02). Missing or incorrect data records suggest gaps need to be addressed in addition to increasing the proportion of ALHIV who receive accurate VL results to optimize care and management.