Effects of Multimonth Dispensing on Viral Suppression and Continuity in Treatment Among Children Living With HIV Aged 2-9 Years: A Cohort Study in Western Kenya.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: In Kenya, of the 82,000 children living with HIV, only 59% are receiving ART and 67% are virally suppressed. Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ministry of Health recommended 3 multimonth dispensing (3MMD) of ART to all people living with HIV, including children. This study assesses the association between 3 MMD and clinical outcomes among children in Western Kenya. SETTINGS and Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using routinely collected deidentified patient-level data from 43 facilities in Kisii and Migori Counties. The study included children aged 2-9 years who had been previously initiated on ART and sought HIV services between March 01, 2020, and March 30, 2021. We used generalized linear models with Poisson regression models to assess the association between MMD on retention at 6 months and viral suppression (<1000 copies/mL). RESULTS: Among the 963 children, 65.2% were aged 5-9 years and 50.7% were female patients. Seventy-eight percent received 3MMD at least once during the study period. Children who received 3MMD were 12% (adjusted risk ratio [aRR] 1.12, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.24) more likely to be retained and 22% (aRR 1.22, 1.12 to 1.34) more likely to be virally suppressed than those on <3MMD. When stratified by viral suppression at entry, the association between 3MMD and retention (aRR 1.22, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.46) and viral suppression (aRR 1.76, 95% CI 1.30-2.37) was significant among individuals who were unsuppressed at baseline. CONCLUSIONS: 3MMD was associated with comparable or improved HIV health outcomes among children.