Abstract:
Background: Late presentation for HIV/AIDS care may occur because HIV-infected persons are not aware of their risk of infection and fail to seek testing, or, even if aware of their risk, do not seek testing or face significant barriers to access HIV testing. In addition, patients may not immediately seek or be provided with access to medical care upon receiving their first HIV positive test result. This can occur due to different reasons. So, identification of different risk factors associated with late HIV/AIDS care is essential to target interventions aimed at favoring early entrance into HIV/AIDS care.
Objective: Was to assess factors associated with late presentation for HIV/AIDS care in Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia.
Methods: Institution based unmatched case-control study with quantitative and qualitative methods was conducted in Jimma University specialized hospital and Jimma health center. For quantitative method, a sample of 103 cases and 206 controls were selected using consecutive sampling technique. For qualitative method, selected health workers working in ART clinic and selected HIV positive participants who attend ART clinic for the first time were involved in in-depth interview. Quantitative Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences software for windows version 16 and logistic regression analysis was used. Qualitative information was analyzed using thematic analysis and triangulated with quantitative findings.
Result: Being divorced or Separated (OR=3.7, CI: 1.3-10.4), formally Read and write (OR=3.7, CI: 1.6-8.7), perceived HIV as curable (OR= 2.7, CI: 1.3-5.4), get tested by VCT (OR=2.5, CI: 1.2-5.4), had symptoms at HIV diagnosis (OR= 4.9, CI: 2.3-10.9), had chronic health problem/s (OR= 2.7, CI: 1.2-5.9), having contact with commercial sex workers (OR= 3.00, CI: 1.4-6.5) and alcohol users (OR= 3.8, CI: 1.8-7.9) were found to be an independent predictors to late presentation for HIV/AIDS care. The qualitative finding also supports almost all the quantitative data.
Conclusion: Participants who separated/divorced, educated, have sign/symptoms, chronic health problems and with behavioral problems at HIV diagnosis had high probability of presenting late for HIV/AIDS care. So, efforts to increases early initation should focus on strengthening ‘test and treat’ strategy and behavioral change.
