Assessment of the therapeutic success of antiretroviral combinations used in a HIV treatment center, Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

HIV/AIDS pandemic has been a health challenge worldwide. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been used to reduce viral load to an undetectable level. The study was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of antiretroviral combinations used in a HIV treatment center, Jos, Nigeria. A retrospective cohort study of 321 adult HIV patients’ folders was carried out from January 2010 to December 2010. A stratified data extraction form   was used to extract relevant information from the patient’s folders. Data analysis was done using SPSS software version 16, Chicago Illinois. The mean household size was 6.06, the number of HIV infected individuals per household was 1.41 and 0.94 persons per households had died of HIV/AIDS. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) in the CD₄ cell counts of the groups in combinations A (Truvada+ Nevirapine), B (Truvada + Efavirenz), E (Truvada+ Aluvia) and J (Lamivudine + Starvudine + Nevirapine) regimens. There was a significant increase (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) in the body weights of all the combinations except H (Combivir + Aluvia), I (Combivir + Nevirapine) and L (Lamivudine + Starvudine + Effavirenz). Drug combinations A (Truvada+ Nevirapine), B (Truvada + Efavirenz), E (Truvada+ Aluvia) and J (Lamivudine + Starvudine + Nevirapine) demonstrated an appreciable therapeutic success.