Assessment of treatment outcomes of adolescents on antiretroviral therapy at selected public primary healthcare clinics in the Cape Metropole, South Africa.

Abstract

Introduction: HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among adolescents in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2020, approximately 2.8 million adolescents (aged 10–19 years) were living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, with 85% residing in sub-Saharan Africa. About 50% of adolescents living with HIV globally live in Nigeria, India, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, and South Africa. Adolescents living with HIV (ALHIV) have worse treatment outcomes compared to children and adults. In 2021, an overall 74% viral load suppression (VLS) rate was reported in South Africa among adolescents registered in the antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme. It is essential to assess the performance of adolescents registered on ART in public health care settings because they have been identified as a key population in turning the tide against the HIV pandemic and achieving UNAIDS' 95-95-95 targets.