Outcome and reasons for loss of follow-up among people living with HIV followed in Parakou from 2018 to 2022

Introduction: Among the challenges facing the monitoring of people living with HIV (PLHIV) are chronic diseases and loss to follow-up. This study focused on the reasons for loss to follow-up and outcome of PLHIV lost to follow-up.
Setting and Methods: This was a cross-sectional and descriptive study. The study population consisted of PLHIV lost to follow-up. PLHIV of both sexes, aged over 15, followed from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2022, in Parakou were included in the study. The variables studied related to the reasons for loss to follow-up and the outcome of PLHIV lost to follow-up. Data analysis was performed using Epi Info version 7.2 software.
Results: The study population consisted of 293 PLHIV. The mean age was 37.72 ± 12.24 years, with a range of 21 to 78 years. A female predominance was observed, with a sex ratio of 0.65. The outcome of PLHIV lost to follow-up was characterized by death (9.90%), 11.94% were not found and 78.16% in alive. Among living PLHIV, the majority had either changed treatment site or were not treated. The reasons for loss to follow-up were dominated by stigma/self-stigmatization (60.26%).
Conclusion: The majority of PLHIV lost to follow-up were alive and had either changed treatment site or were not treated. The main reason for loss to follow-up was stigma/self-stigmatization.