Universal test and treat in Cameroon: a comparative retrospective analysis of mortality and loss to follow-up before and after a strategic change in approach to HIV care.

Introduction: an increasing number of persons living with HIV (PLHIV) are accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) since the adoption of the universal test and treat (UTT) policy by Cameroon in 2016. We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the UTT approach to keep this growing number of PLHIV on a lifelong treatment.

Methods: a retrospective cohort analysis was conducted at the Nkongsamba Regional Hospital between 2002 and 2020, using routine data to compare the cumulative incidence of loss to follow-up (LTFU) and mortality between PLHIV initiated on ART under UTT guidelines and those initiated under the standard deferred approach.