Current Pediatric Research

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) remains a major concern in low and middle income countries, despite the enormous development of society today. Children with HIV/AIDS are the worst victim of the pandemic; adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) in children is inherently challenging. Objectives: This study aimed to determine characteristics of children with HIV/AIDS, adherence to ART and related factors. Methods: A cross-sectional descriptive study was collected on children diagnosed with HIV and receiving ART and their caregivers being managed at Soc Trang hospital for women and children, Soc Trang province, a Southern province of Vietnam. Results: A total of 133 children were surveyed, mainly in the age of 11-15 years old (61.7%); females accounted for 57.1%; 87.2% of children suffered from malnutrition and clinical stage III accounted for mainly with the rate of 39.4%. Mostly children with advanced immunosuppression and severe immunosuppression accounted for 25.6% and 24.1%, respectively. The overall ART adherence rate in the study was slightly low at 26.3%. Factors associated with non-adherence to treatment include: Poor caregiver economics (p=0.028), caregiver education levels under grade 9/12 (p=0.049) and the patient's clinical stages were III and IV (p=0.042). Conclusion: Most children with HIV/AIDS in Soc Trang, Vietnam were in advanced and severe condition, while ART adherence was greatly low. Factors associated with non-adherence include the caregiver's poverty, education and the child's clinical stage. Intervention programs should focus on addressing these objects to improve the adherence to ART.

Author(s): Hung Do Tran, Binh Chi Huynh, Khai Van Tran, Khai Quang Tran*

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