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Key factors influencing retention in care among people living with HIV in Turkey: a 5-year retrospective analysis

Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing retention in care among individuals living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), with the goal of emphasising improved treatment compliance and health outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective, single-centre study included 300 individuals living with HIV who had been followed for at least two years. Patients who adhered to their follow-ups at three-month intervals for two years after their initial appointment and subsequently attended follow-ups at least twice a year for at least six months thereafter were considered to have "retention in care". We evaluated the effects of several factors, including age, sex, time to the first visit after diagnosis, use of telehealth services, daily pill count, dose frequency, and the time interval between the first visit and the commencement of treatment, on follow-up outcomes. RESULTS: The study population (mean age of 36.8 ± 11.91 years) included 269 (89.7%) males. Overall, there were 258 cases (86%) in which the time between diagnosis confirmation and the first visit was less than one month. Moreover, 227 individuals (75.6%) retained in care. The utilisation of telehealth services had a significant effect on follow-up consistency (p < 0.001). Age, sex, time to the first visit after diagnosis, daily pill count, dose frequency, and the time interval to treatment initiation did not affect retention in care. CONCLUSIONS: Telehealth services have shown a substantial correlation with retention in HIV care and should be integrated into care models for better patient outcomes.
DOI: 10.1186/s12879-025-12358-4
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,090
OpenAlex ID: W4417524053
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Cites: 22
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