# Burden of virologic failure, and its determinants among HIV positive children in East Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

## TL;DR

This study finds a high rate of virologic failure in HIV-positive children in East Africa and identifies key factors contributing to it.

## Contribution

The study provides a systematic review and meta-analysis of virologic failure prevalence and its determinants in East Africa.

## Key findings

- The pooled prevalence of virologic failure is 25.90% in East Africa.
- Poor adherence, being male, wasting, and NVP-based regimen are significant predictors of virologic failure.

## Abstract

There are many studies regarding the prevalence of Virologic failure and its associated factors in East Africa, but they are inconclusive. In this study, the prevalence of Virologic failure and its associated factors in east Africa were determined.

Published articles that were conducted in English language were prepared based on preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) statement. Web of Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar were explored to find out the articles. STATA Version 14 software was used for computing the pooled estimates of both the prevalence of virologic failure and associated factors. The pooled estimates were computed using both random and fixed effect models. Results were presented by using the randomand fixed effect models. . The pooled estimates were presented with 95% CI. Publication bias was assessed by looking the symmetry in the funnel plot.

The pooled prevalence of virologic failure was, 25.90 (19.49, 32.32, p ≤ 0:001) in the random effect model. Four factors, poor adherence (2.91 (Pooled odds ratio(POR): 2.91, 95%CI: 1.93, 4.40), being male (1.17 (POR: 1.17, 95%CI: 1.08, 1.27)), wasting as an under nutrition (3.1 (POR:3.1, 95%CI: 1.63, 5.95), and Nevirapine(NVP) based regimen (2.76 (POR: 2.76 (1.65,95%CI: 4.62)) were found to be independent predictors of virologic failure.

The prevalence of virologic failure in East Africa is remarkably high. Four factors were found to be the determining factors Different strategies must be designed to address (poor adherence, being male, wasting as an under nutrition, and NVP based regimen).