ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Pediatr.
Sec. Pediatric Infectious Diseases
This article is part of the Research TopicTowards Control of the HIV epidemic: Trends in Epidemiology and Emerging Drug Resistance in the Integrase Inhibitor EraView all 10 articles
Predictors of Virological Failure and Its Predictors amongin in a Pediatric Cohort on a Dolutegravir Based Regimen: at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital - A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study in Northwest Ethiopia, 2017-2023
Provisionally accepted
Woretaw Sisay Zewdu*
Mulugeta Molla Zeleke
Yared Andargie Frede
Achenef Bogale Kassie
Muluken Adela Alemu
Tilaye Arega Moges- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Ethiopia
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ABSTRACT Introduction Despite the fact that antiretroviral therapy (ART) has reduced HIV/AIDS-related morbidity and mortality, pediatrics treatment failure remains a global concern. As a result, this study set out prudently to determine the prevalence of virologic failure and its predictors among children and adolescents on a Dolutegravir (DTG)-based antiretroviral regimen. Method A hospital-based retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on children and adolescents on ART at Debre Tabor Comprehensive Specialized Hospital in Northwest Ethiopia from February-2017 to September-2023. Study participants were selected purposively. Data was collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and a data abstraction tool. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were fitted to determine the linked factors. A p-value less than 0.05 was deemed to indicate a statistically significant association. Result Among the 359 children and adolescents included in this study, 38 (10.58%) had developed virological failure. The odds of virological failure among children and adolescents were found to be increased by the age of the child <10 years (AOR = 4.41; 95% CI: 2.60-7.47), the care taker being a guardian or neighbor of patient (AOR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.15 - 4.73), both parents passing away (AOR = 1.29; 95% CI: 0.12-2.68), CD4 counts ≤200 cells/µL (AOR = 4.3; 95% CI: 1.32– 5.9), being infected with OIs (AOR = 2.03; 95% CI: 1.38–3.55), poor adherence status (AOR = 1.37: 95% CI: 1.12–3.11), adverse drug reaction (AOR = 1.75: 95% CI: 1.02–4.97), and anemic (AOR = 1.70: 95% CI: 1.03–5.15.04) Conclusion Despite potent DTG-based ARTs being introduced, virologic failure remains a concern in the study area. Special consideration should be directed towards children under the age of 10 years who are in the care of a guardian or neighbors, have lost both parents, are infected with opportunistic infections, have a poor adherence status, are experiencing adverse drug reactions, and anemic.
Keywords: virological failure, Dolutegravir, antiretroviral therapy, Children, hiv/aids
Received: 08 Jul 2024; Accepted: 27 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zewdu, Zeleke, Frede, Kassie, Alemu and Moges. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Woretaw Sisay Zewdu, woresis@dtu.edu.et
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