EFFECT OF COMMUNITY TREATMENT INITIATIVE ON ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY UPTAKE AMONG LINKAGE - RESISTANT PLHIV IN NORTHERN NIGERIA

Abstract Background Community Treatment Initiative (CTI) was developed in Northern Nigeria as an intervention to link a cohort of people living with HIV (PLHIV) who refused Antiretroviral treatment through conventional linkage method to care and treatment. CTI attempted to take treatment to PLHIVs at the community. Methods A non-control interventional study that evaluated the proportion of linkage-resistant PLHIV linked to treatment through CTI in nine geographical areas. Data was collected between October – December 2015. Linkage-resistant PLHIV were identified and linked to treatment using CTI. We analyzed data using excel and SPSS 20.0, and used simple proportion to estimate linkage-resistant PLHIV who were eventually linked, retained in care, ultimately achieving virologic suppression (viral load Results An estimated 541(20 percent) PLHIV (239 (44.2%) Male, 302 (55.8%) Female) seen from October-December 2015 refused linkage to treatment’. this was statistically significant at P Value Conclusions CTI improved linkage to care and treatment for a cohort of linkage-resistant PLHIV. A focus on this cohort of linkage resistant positive clients is required to achieve HIV epidemic control.