Factors associated with paediatric ART uptake in Bindura and Guruve districts, Zimbabwe 2015

Paediatric ART coverage in Zimbabwe remains low despite effort to improve it. Currently it stands at 56.7% compared to an adult ART coverage above 75%. Major reasons for this are largely unknown although assumptions are these children are not being tested for HIV. This is a presentation of the results of a study on factors affecting paediatric ART uptake among children aged one to fourteen years in Bindura and Guruve districts of Mashonaland Central Province. Methods An analytic cross sectional study was conducted among caregivers of HIV positive children and health workers in Bindura and Guruve Districts. Data were collected on socio-demographic, socio-economic, psychological and programmatic factors associated with pediatric ART uptake. Quantitative data were analysed using Epi info to calculate odds ratios. Stratified and multivariate analyses were done to check and control for effect modification and/or confounding. Results A total of 213 caregivers were interviewed. Control of household finances [aPOR=11.7 (95% CI 4.71 – 29.23)], sex of caregiver [aPOR=11.2 (95% CI 3.48 – 36.28)] and ethnicity [aPOR=8.38 (95% CI 3.01 – 23.31)] were the independent risk factors associated with up taking paediatric ART. Age of child [aOR=0.26 (95% CI 0.07 – 0.97)] was the independent protective factor associated with up taking paediatric ART. Conclusion Socio-demographic factors were significantly associated with uptake of paediatric ART among respondents. Education on the importance of paediatric ART for caregivers who visit the PMTCT needs to be reinforced by the nurses attending to the caregivers on their review dates