Factors associated with late presentation to HIV/AIDS care in Harare City , 2015

Introduction: Despite widespread awareness and publicity concerning HIV care and advances in treatment, many patients still present late in their HIV disease. Preliminary review of the ART registers at Wilkins and Beatrice Road Hospitals indicated that 67% and 71% of patients enrolled into HIV/AIDS care presented late with baseline CD4 of <200 cells/uL and/or WHO stage 3 and 4 respectively. We therefore sought to explore factors associated with late presentation, with a view to encourage early health seeking behaviour. Methods: We conducted a 1:1 unmatched case control study in Harare City where a case was an HIV positive individual (>18 years) with a baseline CD4 of 18 years) who had a baseline CD4 of >200/uL or WHO clinical stage 1 or 2 at first presentation in 2014. Results: A total of 268 participants were recruited (134 cases and 134 controls). Independent risk factors for late presentation for HIV/AIDS care were illness being reason for test (AOR=7.68, 95% CI=4.08-14.75); Being male (AOR=2.84, 95% CI=1.50-5.40) and; experienced HIV stigma (AOR=2.99, 95% CI=1.54-5.79). Independent protective factors were receiving information on HIV (AOR=0.37, 95% CI=0.18-0.78) and earning more than US$250 per month (AOR=0.32, 95% CI=0.76-0.67). Median duration between first reported HIV positive test result and enrolment into pre-ART care was 2 days (Q1=1, Q3=30) among cases and 30 days (Q1=3, Q3=75) among controls. Conclusion: Late presentation for HIV/AIDS care in Harare City was as a result of factors that relate to the patient‘s sex, illness as a reason for getting a test, receiving HIV related information, experiencing stigma and monthly income(>$250). Based on this evidence, we recommended targeted interventions to optimize early access to testing and enrolment into care