Authors :
Chukwudi Kennedy Okwor; Charles Ugonna Onyegbado; Angela Egbe; Ogechi Ezeobi; Fabian Bassey; Olayiwola Olarewaju; Amana Effiong; Ifeyinwa Nkiruka Okwor
Volume/Issue :
Volume 8 - 2023, Issue 6 - June
Google Scholar :
https://bit.ly/3TmGbDi
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/2d5sxhjs
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8099378
Abstract :
Background: Conflicting school hours pose a significant
challenge to viral load sample collection coverage for
HIV-positive school-age children in Nigeria. This paper
highlights the merits of the weekend viremia clinic
services in improving viral load coverage and suppression
among HIV-positive school-aged children with missed
opportunities as a result of conflicting school hours.
Methods: The weekend viremia clinic service was
implemented from February 2020 to October 2022. We
listed the HIV-positive school-age patients who were
eligible for viral load tests from the electronic medical
records and batched them according to their local
government area of residence. Ethical approval for
patients’ home visits was obtained from the State
Ministry of Health. The patients were assigned to the
Orphan and Vulnerable Children case managers who
facilitated the mobilization of the test-eligible HIVpositive children to ART centers on Saturdays for viral
load sample collection. The consent of the caregivers was
obtained via phone calls prior to the home visits.
Keywords :
Conflicting; School Hours; Weekend; Viral Load; Coverage; Suppression; Facilitated, ChildConvenient.
Background: Conflicting school hours pose a significant
challenge to viral load sample collection coverage for
HIV-positive school-age children in Nigeria. This paper
highlights the merits of the weekend viremia clinic
services in improving viral load coverage and suppression
among HIV-positive school-aged children with missed
opportunities as a result of conflicting school hours.
Methods: The weekend viremia clinic service was
implemented from February 2020 to October 2022. We
listed the HIV-positive school-age patients who were
eligible for viral load tests from the electronic medical
records and batched them according to their local
government area of residence. Ethical approval for
patients’ home visits was obtained from the State
Ministry of Health. The patients were assigned to the
Orphan and Vulnerable Children case managers who
facilitated the mobilization of the test-eligible HIVpositive children to ART centers on Saturdays for viral
load sample collection. The consent of the caregivers was
obtained via phone calls prior to the home visits.
Keywords :
Conflicting; School Hours; Weekend; Viral Load; Coverage; Suppression; Facilitated, ChildConvenient.
