Human Immunodeficiency Virus Disclosure and Viral Load Suppression Statuses of Adolescents Living with HIV: A Cross-sectional Study in Lafia, Nigeria.

• ¹, Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital Lafia Nasarawa state ,

Introduction: Adolescents are faced with challenges such as knowing their HIV status, risks of transmission, and consequently poor viral suppression. We determined the age of disclosure and its impact on viral load. 
Objectives:  A  cross-sectional  study  to  determine  the  age  of  HIV  disclosure,  the prevalence of HIV status disclosure, and viral suppression among adolescents in Lafia, Nigeria. 
Methods: We sequentially recruited 119 adolescents with HIV for six months at a tertiary  healthcare  facility  in  Lafia,  Nasarawa  State,  North-Central  Nigeria.  An interviewer-administered  questionnaire  was  used  to  gather  information  on adolescents/caregivers  from  January  to  June  2021.  We  calculated  frequencies  and percentages  of  categorical  variables,  mean  and  standard  deviation  of  continuous variables, and bivariates analysis. P-value < 0.05 was considered significant. 
Results: A mean age at HIV disclosure of 17.0 ± 4.8 years was found while the perceived safest  age  for  disclosure  was  11–15  years.  A  total  of  90.8%  were  on  first-line antiretroviral  therapy  (ART)  with  79.8%  on  Tenofovir/Lamivudine/Dolutegravir combination; and none on third line ART. We found good adherence among 79.0% of participants and 84.0% were virally suppressed. Adolescents with good adherence to ART have four-fold odds of being virally suppressed (OR: 4.2; 95% CI: 1.1–3.6). However, the child’s age (OR: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.1–10.7) and parents being alive (OR: 0.7; 95% CI: 0.2–2.9) were not statistically significant. 
Conclusions: There is a high frequency of HIV disclosure in our population but the average age at HIV disclosure was in late adolescence. Most participants have good adherence to ART and good viral suppression. Good adherence to ART was a significant determinant of viral suppression. Public health measures to ensure HIV disclosure at an earlier age are recommended.