Evaluation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision in an early cohort of patients initiating ART in Ghana
INTRODUCTION: Against the background of Ghana's ART program which scaled up rapidly since inception in 2003, the study assessed outcomes of an early cohort of patients initiating ART. METHODS: The study utilized the following methods: a cross-sectional study involving patient interviews using a...
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| Format: | Article |
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The Pan African Medical Journal
2013-11-01
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| Series: | The Pan African Medical Journal |
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https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/16/117/pdf/117.pdf
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| _version_ | 1818975472148545536 |
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| author | Sally-Ann Ohene Nii Akwei Addo Francisca Zigah Morkor Newman Margaret Lartey Maite Alfonso Romero Sampson Ofori Tania Sheriff Tom Ndanu |
| author_facet | Sally-Ann Ohene Nii Akwei Addo Francisca Zigah Morkor Newman Margaret Lartey Maite Alfonso Romero Sampson Ofori Tania Sheriff Tom Ndanu |
| author_sort | Sally-Ann Ohene |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | INTRODUCTION: Against the background of Ghana's ART program which scaled up rapidly since inception in 2003, the study assessed outcomes of an early cohort of patients initiating ART. METHODS: The study utilized the following methods: a cross-sectional study involving patient interviews using a structured questionnaire, a review of records and a retrospective cohort analysis of adults initiating ART between 2003 and 2008 from four selected clinics. RESULTS: The 683 study participants consisted of 464 females (67.9%) and the mean age was 41 years. Mean duration of treatment was 25 months (SD =13). More than 95% were on a regimen as per national guidelines. Ninety-five (14.1%) of the respondents had one or two drugs substituted. Seventy-three % of the substitutions were due to adverse drug reactions. On at least one occasion, over half (350) had defaulted on a clinic appointment. In the 3 months preceding the survey, 21.4% (146) had missed treatment doses. About 49% (334) had challenges meeting financial obligations related to care. The median weight increased by 5.9kg and 8.0kg at 6 and 12 months after initiating ART respectively over the median baseline weight of 54kg, (p-value=0.001). The median CD4 count increased by 128, 170 and 256 cells/l respectively at 6, 12 and 24 months from the median baseline of 125 cell/�l, (p-value=0.035). CONCLUSION: This study of Ghanaian PLHIV on ART from four facilities showed encouraging immunological and clinical outcomes. There were however issues of appointment default, sub-optimum adherence to treatment and cost of care barriers needing attention. |
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| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-51461966bcbf468eaa0ab00a7e7dbb0a |
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| issn | 1937-8688 1937-8688 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T15:56:29Z |
| publishDate | 2013-11-01 |
| publisher | The Pan African Medical Journal |
| record_format | Article |
| series | The Pan African Medical Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-51461966bcbf468eaa0ab00a7e7dbb0a2022-12-21T19:34:27ZengThe Pan African Medical JournalThe Pan African Medical Journal1937-86881937-86882013-11-011611710.11604/pamj.2013.16.117.31363136Evaluation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision in an early cohort of patients initiating ART in GhanaSally-Ann Ohene0Nii Akwei Addo1Francisca Zigah2Morkor Newman3Margaret Lartey4Maite Alfonso Romero5Sampson Ofori6Tania Sheriff7Tom Ndanu8 World Health Organization Ghana Country Office, Accra, Ghana National AIDS/STI Control Programme, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Accra, Ghana World Health Organization Inter-country Support Team, Harare, Zimbabwe Department of Medicine, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana St Dominic's Hospital, Akwatia, Ghana Koforidua Regional Hospital, Koforidua, Ghana Odorna Clinic, Accra, Ghana University of Ghana Dental School, Accra, Ghana INTRODUCTION: Against the background of Ghana's ART program which scaled up rapidly since inception in 2003, the study assessed outcomes of an early cohort of patients initiating ART. METHODS: The study utilized the following methods: a cross-sectional study involving patient interviews using a structured questionnaire, a review of records and a retrospective cohort analysis of adults initiating ART between 2003 and 2008 from four selected clinics. RESULTS: The 683 study participants consisted of 464 females (67.9%) and the mean age was 41 years. Mean duration of treatment was 25 months (SD =13). More than 95% were on a regimen as per national guidelines. Ninety-five (14.1%) of the respondents had one or two drugs substituted. Seventy-three % of the substitutions were due to adverse drug reactions. On at least one occasion, over half (350) had defaulted on a clinic appointment. In the 3 months preceding the survey, 21.4% (146) had missed treatment doses. About 49% (334) had challenges meeting financial obligations related to care. The median weight increased by 5.9kg and 8.0kg at 6 and 12 months after initiating ART respectively over the median baseline weight of 54kg, (p-value=0.001). The median CD4 count increased by 128, 170 and 256 cells/l respectively at 6, 12 and 24 months from the median baseline of 125 cell/�l, (p-value=0.035). CONCLUSION: This study of Ghanaian PLHIV on ART from four facilities showed encouraging immunological and clinical outcomes. There were however issues of appointment default, sub-optimum adherence to treatment and cost of care barriers needing attention. https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/16/117/pdf/117.pdf ghanaantiretroviral treatmentimmunologicalclinicaloutcomes |
| spellingShingle | Sally-Ann Ohene Nii Akwei Addo Francisca Zigah Morkor Newman Margaret Lartey Maite Alfonso Romero Sampson Ofori Tania Sheriff Tom Ndanu Evaluation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision in an early cohort of patients initiating ART in Ghana The Pan African Medical Journal ghana antiretroviral treatment immunological clinical outcomes |
| title | Evaluation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision in an early cohort of patients initiating ART in Ghana |
| title_full | Evaluation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision in an early cohort of patients initiating ART in Ghana |
| title_fullStr | Evaluation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision in an early cohort of patients initiating ART in Ghana |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evaluation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision in an early cohort of patients initiating ART in Ghana |
| title_short | Evaluation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision in an early cohort of patients initiating ART in Ghana |
| title_sort | evaluation of antiretroviral therapy art provision in an early cohort of patients initiating art in ghana |
| topic | ghana antiretroviral treatment immunological clinical outcomes |
| url |
https://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/16/117/pdf/117.pdf
|
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