Correlates Of Hiv Viral Load Suppression Among Hiv Positive Adults On Care In Nakuru County, Kenya

Across the entire globe, 75% of people are aware of their HIV Status, at the same time 79% of the people living with HIV are now accessing anti-retroviral therapy while 81% of those people are at the same time accessing the treatment and have suppressed viral loads. Nakuru County viral suppression stands at 88.3 % (30,407) below the UNAIDS target and National target (2020). The purpose of the study was to determine the correlates of Viral Suppression in Naivasha Sub-County Hospital, Nakuru County. Specific objectives were to determine the socio-demographic characteristics associated with viral suppression in Nakuru County, to establish the patient health related correlates associated with viral suppression in Nakuru County and determine the health system correlates associated with viral suppression. A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out in Naivasha Sub-District Hospital. The study focussed on Naivasha Sub County Hospital which currently has 2986 clients on care. The study focused on Naivasha Sub-County Hospital which currently has 2986 clients on care with 2586 virally suppressed which is 85.0%. A Sample size of 192 clients was selected using systematic random sampling. Data was collected using questionnaires for patients and key informant interviews who managed HIV clients in Naivasha Sub-County Hospital. Analysis was analysed using SPSS (Version 24. 0): Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics (Measures of association and correlation was applied) inferential statistics which was done using logistic regression where likelihood or odd ratio was used to predict the correlates of viral suppression. The study response rate was 100.0% whereby out of 192 cohort’s under study, 125 (65.0%) clients had viral load suppression below 1000 viral copies/ microliter of blood and 67 (35.0%) clients with viral load suppression above 1000 viral copies/microliter of blood. The study found the following factors to be critical predictors associated with viral load suppression; distance to facility, occupation, adherence, and co-morbidity, leadership of facility and ARV regimen.