Prevalence of virological failure and associated factors among adult patients on highly active anti retro viral treatment in public health facilities at Tulu Bolo Town Southwest Shoa, Oromia, Ethiopia, 2024

Introduction: The goal of antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection is to achieve and maintain virologic suppression. Review of charts of adult HIV-positive patients at public health facilities in Tulu Bolo Town reveals that approximately 6.07% of patients did not respond to first-line antiretroviral medication. The identified gap indicates that the study area's virologic failure prevalence and contributing factors are not well-documented. Thus, this study's objectives are to evaluate prevalence and fill up the knowledge gap about the causes of virologic failure. Objective : To assess the prevalence of virological failure and associated factors among patients taking highly active anti-Retroviral therapy in Tulu Bolo Town Health facilities, Oromia, Ethiopia,2024. Methods : Health facility based cross sectional study was conducted at Tulu Bolo town in public health facilities from September 30, 2024 to October 30, 2024. Total sample sizes of 274 records of clients were selected using simple random sampling technique. Data was cleaned and entered in to EPI info version 7.2.0.1 and exported to SPSS version 20.0 for further analysis. The association was identified using binary logistic regression model. An adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence intervals (CI) was computed to identify the presence and strength of association. Finally, statistically significant variables were declared at p-value < 0.05 along with 95% CI. Results: A total of 274 charts of HIV positive clients were included in the study. The magnitude of virologic failure was 12.8% (95%CI 9%, 17%). Baseline CD4 count < 200 (AOR 6.1, 95%CI 2.06, 18.43), Clients infected with TB (AOR 4.8 95%CI (1.78, 12.96), treatment interruption (AOR 3.05, 95% CI 1.06, 8.77) and adherence (AOR 3.67, 95%CI 1.39, 9.66) were statistically significant association. Conclusions and Recommendation: The overall prevalence of virologic failure of this study was high as compared to standard. Baseline CD4 Count, TB infection, treatment interruption and Adherence were significant factors. Health facility ART provider and HIV/AIDS program manager should give special attention for Clients with history of TB co infection and CD4 count < 200 needs care and support and providing TB preventive therapy.