Isoniazid Preventive Therapy Initiation and Associated Factors among People Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) in Atiak HCIV, Amuru District, Northern Uganda
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Date
2026-10
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Gulu University
Abstract
Background: The global annual new TB cases is over ten million in number, particularly among individuals who are immunocompromised. Those living with HIV are particularly at risk and highly likely to progress from the latent stage of TB to active disease. TB remains the most common cause of death among PLWHA, contributing to approximately one-third of HIV-related fatalities. By 2019, only about half (49%) of HIV-positive individuals newly initiated on ART program worldwide had been initiated on IPT. There is limited data on the initiation of IPT in Amuru district, hence the need for study.
Objective: To determine the initiation of Isoniazid Preventive Therapy and establish the factors
contributing to the initiation among eligible patients with HIV on ART in Atiak HCIV in Amuru
District.
Methodology: Secondary data from ART cards in ART Clinic for the period of January to
December 2023 were collected using a prepared checklist. HIV+ individuals on Antiretroviral
treatment and not having active TB were included in the study. Analysis of the data was facilitated
using Stata version 14.0 statistical software.
Results: A total of 427 patient-level data were screened, and a total sample of 425 were enrolled
as study participants through systematic random sampling while 2 participants were eliminated
due to incomplete information. Females constituted over half of the study participants (62.9%),
while 37.41% were males. Participants who had been on ART for durations of 6 to 10 years
constituted the majority (34.8%) of the study participants, while those who had been on care for
less than 1 year formed the least category (5.18%). Initiation of IPT was found to be at 93.41%
(n=397), while non-initiation was at 6.59% (n=28). The duration on ART of more than one year
was found to be associated with initiation of IPT.
Conclusion: The coverage of IPT was found to be 93.41% which is relatively high and supports
the WHO recommendation as well as findings from other studies. Longer duration on ART from
6-10years was associated with high coverage.
Recommendation: Retention in care, which is a core objective of HIV care, is an important factor
in achieving high coverage of IPT. Thus, more emphasis should be put in achieving high level of
retention in comprehensive HIV care as this positively impacts on TB prevention through high IPT
coverage. Appointment keeping should be encouraged as this directly impacts on IPT initiation.
Description
Key words: Isoniazid Preventive Therapy, Isoniazid, PLHIV, ART, HIV, HIV/AIDS