Factors Influencing Retention in Care among Adolescents and Young Adults Living with HIV Attending ART Clinic in Kogi State, Nigeria: A Quantitative Study

Background: Retention in care remains an effective parameter to manage antiretroviral therapy (ART) uptake for adolescents and young adults living with HIV/AIDS around us. Adherence to ART treatments is significantly challenging in many ART treatment centres where Nigeria's budget for sustainable healthcare is limited. This study examines the factors that influence retention in care among adolescents and young adults living with HIV attending ART clinics in Kogi State, Nigeria, as insights to enhancing long-term engagement in HIV treatment. Method: The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design using a multistage sampling technique to select 307 adolescent and young adult participants enrolled on ART from all the treatment centres in three senatorial districts in Kogi State. A structured, self-developed questionnaire was used to collect the study data for bivariate and multivariate analysis using IBM SPSS version 26. Results: The study found that over half (52.1%) of respondents were adolescents in the age bracket 15–19 years, of which nearly two-thirds (58.6%) were female gender. Most (80.5%) of the youngsters had been initiated on the ART for nearly four years. The study revealed that a challenge in ART retention in care was significantly associated with incessant stigmatisation and discrimination (χ² = 28.45, p < 0.01). The study also revealed that lack of interest in ART was 0.030 more likely to influence adolescent and young adults' retention in care (β = -3.507, OR = 0.030, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Critical challenges faced by adolescents and young adults to remain in care were greatly influenced by increased stigmatisation and discrimination, among other factors. Addressing these barriers can be promoted through a stigma reduction initiative approach and flexible clinic schedules for HIV-infected young adults and adolescents.