SCHEDULED CLINIC APPOINTMENT KEEPING AMONG HIV-INFECTED ADOLESCENTS ATTENDING A SINGLE TERTIARY CENTRE IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Background: Keeping to scheduled clinic appointment by HIV-infected patients is reported to be a predictor
of their long term clinical progress. Missed appointments also disrupt healthcare services and cause misspent
scarce administrative and medical resources. Continuous engagement and support is recommended for HIVinfected
persons to prevent loss to follow up
Aim/Objective: This study aims to determine the proportion of adolescents that are adherent to their scheduled
clinic appointments and identify factors associated with appointment keeping among adolescents in University
of Abuja Teaching Hospital.
Methods: This was a questionnaire-based, prospective study carried out over a one year period among HIVinfected
adolescents on antiretroviral therapy aged. The adolescents were assessed once every two months.
A total of 145 adolescents were enrolled into the study of which 80 (55.2%) were males, 78 (53.8%) were aged
10 -13 years old and 61 (42.1%) were of the middle social class. Seventy-nine (54.5%) of the adolescents were
100% adherent to their scheduled follow up clinic appointment. The relationship between adherence to clinic
appointments and; age, adolescent relationship with primary caregiver, educational level of adolescent and
caregiver, CD4 count, viral load and disclosure at P = < 0.05.
Conclusion: About half of the adolescent population was not regular with attendance at their scheduled clinic
appointment. More studies are recommended to determine adherence patterns to attendance at scheduled
adolescent HIV clinic appointments as well as identify reasons and solutions for non-adherence.