ENHANCED ADHERENCE COUNSELLING AND VIRAL LOAD SUPPRESSION AMONGST PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV (PLHIV) IN A GOVERNMENT HOSPITAL IN RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) remains the primary treatment for Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, aiming to reduce viral replication and mortality, but this requires lifelong adherence. To achieve viral load suppression [VLS] (below 1000 copies/ml), the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends annual viral load measurements and enhanced adherence counseling (EAC).

Objectives: This study aims to determine the prevalence of VLS following EAC amongst the virally unsuppressed PLHIV at the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) and the factors influencing their virology outcomes.