Clinical Epidemiology and Health Systems Determinants of HIV/AIDS Care Outcomes in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria
International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health·
- DOI
- 10.9734/ijtdh/2026/v47i81775
- PMID
- —
- PMCID
- —
- OpenAlex
- W7203728112
- Study type
- Journal article
- Publisher
- Sciencedomain International
- Article type
- journal-article
- Integrity
- current
Why this research matters now
The 68.3% viral suppression rate falls meaningfully short of the 95-95-95 global target, with facility-type disparities indicating actionable gaps in differentiated service delivery supply chains, mental health integration, and private-sector surveillance reporting that directly affect HIV epidemic control in urban Nigeria.
Structured evidence summary
Research question
The study examined clinical epidemiology and health systems determinants of HIV care outcomes, specifically viral suppression, across different facility types in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria.
Study design
A convergent parallel mixed-methods study combined a cross-sectional survey of 542 people living with HIV using validated tools with 12 key informant interviews from clinicians, adherence counselors, and pharmacists across eight facilities (public tertiary, model primary health centers, and private facilities). Multivariable logistic regression identified predictors of viral suppression.
Population and setting
The study enrolled 542 people living with HIV receiving care across eight facilities in Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Rivers State, Nigeria. Participants had a mean age of 35.2 years, 62.4% were female, and represented patients from public tertiary, model primary health center, and private facility types.
Main findings
Overall viral suppression was 68.3%, below the 95% target. Independent predictors of suppression included older age, female sex, high adherence, treatment buddy support, and differentiated service delivery enrollment, while depression, stigma, and private facility attendance reduced suppression odds. System gaps included limited mental health screening (25% of facilities), ART stockouts (37.5% of facilities), absent private-sector electronic medical record transmission, and uneven differentiated service delivery implementation.
Public-health relevance
The 68.3% viral suppression rate falls meaningfully short of the 95-95-95 global target, with facility-type disparities indicating actionable gaps in differentiated service delivery supply chains, mental health integration, and private-sector surveillance reporting that directly affect HIV epidemic control in urban Nigeria.
Important limitations
This summary relies on the supplied single-article abstract and metadata. The cross-sectional design cannot establish causality between predictors and viral suppression, and generalizability beyond Port Harcourt Local Government Area is uncertain. Complete assessment of study limitations requires access to the full published article.
GIDS interpretation
The article was classified under AIDS surveillance and treatment topics for Nigeria, making it discoverable for monitoring HIV care cascades, health system performance, and viral suppression outcomes in urban South-South Nigeria. The facility-type comparisons and health systems determinants analysis add context for interpreting surveillance data on HIV treatment program effectiveness.
Related GIDS surveillance
Literature context does not validate, explain, or change a surveillance signal. Exact and contextual relationships are shown separately.
Evidence relationships
This article has 8 auditable classifier relationships to diseases, places, topics, and study design.