Viral Suppression in Adult Nigerians in a Regional Antiretroviral Therapy Programme: A Cross Sectional Descriptive Study

Background: The adult ART (antiretroviral therapy) programme started in Nigeria in 2002. After many years of ART in the country, the National implementation plan for the scale up of viral load testing was launched in 2016. Viral load estimation is the most important indicator of ART response. Aim: To describe viral suppression in adults on the HIV ART programme Material & methods: Viral load blood samples of 9450 adults on highly active antiretroviral therapy living with HIV from 4 states within Nigeria were analyzed for HIV RNA in Polymerase Chain Reaction laboratory of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe between December 2017 and December 2019. Results: Males were 2577/9450 (27.3%) and 6873 (72.7%) females. Adults aged 26 - 45 years constituted 69.5% (6572). Viral load test was primarily routine in 96.3% (9098). ART was AZT/3TC/NVP in 52.5% (4962); TDF/3TC/EFV in 46.3% (4375). 48.3% (4568/9450) adults had received HAART for 1 - 5 years; 7.4% (699) for 6 months but 10 years. The most recent CD4 count before viral load request was ≥1000/μL in 6.5% (612) of adults; 500 - 999/μL in 38.6% (3651); 350 - 499 μL in 23.2% (2195) and 1000 c/ml in 22.8% (587/2577) males and 23.0% (1580/6873) females. Of adults aged 19 - 25 years, 28.4% (211/743) had viral load >1000 c/ml; 23.5% (1544/6572); 20.0% (294/1473); 17.8% (93/523) and 18.0% (25/139) aged 26 - 45 years, 46 - 55 years; 56 - 65 years and >65 years also had viral load >1000 c/ml (p value 1000 c/ml in 26.0% (182/699) of adults on HAART for 6 months - 1 year and 21.3% (975/4568) after receiving HAART for 1 - 5 years. 24.9% (885/3551) and 19.8% (125/632) adults had viral load > 1000 c/ml after receiving HAART for 6 - 10 and >10 years respectively. (p value < 0.001) Conclusion: Over all viral suppression of 77% in our study is high but fell below the WHO threshold of 90%. ART programme in Nigeria requires strengthening.