HIV outcomes within the context of orphans and vulnerable children programing: the 4Children project in South Sudan

Poor antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is a challenge to containing the spread of HIV. This is an especially difficult challenge in conflict and post-conflict settings. This study investigates the relationship between attendance in an Orphan and Vulnerable Children program in South Sudan and HIV-related outcomes, including clinic appointment attendance, frequency of viral load testing and viral load suppression rates.

Patient records (n = 295) were selected from project-supported clinics in Juba, South Sudan, and analyzed to measure the association between enrollment status and select health outcomes. Data were collected at multiple time points between 2018 and 2019, to measure the strength of relationship between select treatment variables (e.g., viral load, retention in care, etc.). Given the structure of the data, non-parametric tests were applied to answer the research questions.

Analysis revealed three important trends: (1) enrollment in the 4Children project was associated with a statistically significant increase in the frequency of viral load testing; (2) there was an increase in median appointment attendance after program enrollment; and (3) there was improved management of viral load and CD4 count, albeit small, during the time period before and after enrollment.

Data from South Sudan suggests that caregivers and children receiving project services saw improvement in treatment-related indicators. After enrolling in the project, overall amount of viral load testing increased from previous counts before enrollment. This suggests that after providing additional services with psychosocial and financial support to patients at the two hospitals in Juba, there was potential that similar interventions can support improved HIV outcomes.