[Current status of antiretroviral treatment for people living with human immunodeficiency virus in Burkina Faso in the era of the World Health Organization's "test and treat" strategy].

Abstract

Introduction: The World Health Organization's (WHO) "test and treat" strategy has significantly increased the number of people living with HIV (PLHIV) who receive antiretroviral therapy (ART). This study aimed to evaluate the status of ART in Burkina Faso during this period.

Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted in Plateau-Central, one of the country's 13 regions. We extracted annual data from 2018 to 2023 from the pharmaceutical dispensing database, which is used to monitor individuals receiving ART. We analyzed a trend in treatment initiation. Quantitative variables were described using the median and interquartile range, and qualitative variables were described using proportions.

Results: From 2018 to 2023, the proportion of people who started treatment each year compared to the number of people who tested positive increased from 25% to 100%. Among adults during this period, more than 70% were women. The median age at the start of treatment ranged from 35 years (28-44) to 32 years (25-44). The median treatment duration ranged from five years [2-8] to six years [3-12]. The proportion of adults with at least 95% ART dispensing coverage fluctuated, ranging from a maximum of 70% in 2020 to a minimum of 47% in 2023. The main treatment combination used in adults was TDF/FTC/EFV, accounting for 42% in 2018, 50% in 2019, and 38% in 2020. The TDF/3TC/EFV combination was dominant in 2021, accounting for 46%. In 2022 and 2023, the TDF/3TC/DTG combination was the most common, at 76% in 2022 and 91% in 2023. Among children, males were predominant (around 55%) from 2019 to 2022. The median age at treatmentinitiation ranged from two years [0-9] to four years [2-9], and the median treatment duration ranged from five years [2-8] to six years [3-12]. AZT/3TC/NVP was predominant from 2018 to 2021 (57%, 59%, 40%, and 40%), and ABC/3TC/DTG was predominant from 2022 (52% and 84%). From 2018 to 2023, the proportion of children with at least 95% ART dispensing coverage fluctuated, ranging from a maximum of 76% in 2019 to a minimum of 24% in 2023.

Conclusion: The proportion of people on ART has gradually increased since the WHO's "test and treat" recommendations. These results bring Burkina Faso closer to achieving the UNAIDS targets.