Authorities in Mbarara city, western Uganda, have raised concerns about a troubling increase in the number of HIV patients discontinuing antiretroviral therapy (ART).
Dorcus Twinabaitu, Mbarara’s HIV/AIDS focal person, reported that many young women and girls stop their treatment a few months after enrollment. “This is alarming,” she said, “as these girls contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS when they return to the community.”
Between October and December, 3,441 young women and girls aged 20-29 enrolled in ART care. Another 3,273 enrolled between January and March this year. However, the dropout rate among these groups remains significant. Twinabaitu noted that new HIV cases are increasing more rapidly among young women and girls aged 15-29 than among their male counterparts.
She attributed the high number of new infections to young girls engaging in unprotected commercial sex with men over 45. From October last year to March this year, 628 women were diagnosed with HIV in Mbarara compared to 408 men.
Young women, particularly those aged 20-24 and 25-29, are disproportionately affected, with 185 and 158 new cases respectively. In contrast, only 34 cases were registered among boys aged 20-24 and 91 among those aged 25-29.
Micheal Matsiko, head of the Uganda AIDS Commission’s southwestern region, emphasized that the dropout rate among young girls and women undermines efforts to combat HIV.
“Suppressing the virus to reduce further infections will not be achieved if people drop out of ART,” he said. Matsiko blamed the dropouts on ignorance about the dangers, drug fatigue from daily dosage, patient mobility, and stigma.
Dr. Stephen Asiimwe, head of research at the Uganda AIDS Commission, expressed concern over the increasing number of new infections, noting that HIV prevalence in the Ankole region is higher than the national average of 5.1 percent. Mbarara district has the highest prevalence at 14.4 percent, followed by Kiruhura at 9.5 percent, Bushenyi at 9.2 percent, and Mbarara city at 8.1 percent.
Moses Bindeeba, a person living with HIV, urged the government and other stakeholders to recruit sign language experts at health centers to assist the deaf in accessing ART and other health services.
