{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,1]],"date-time":"2026-04-01T02:14:54Z","timestamp":1775009694333,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,10]],"date-time":"2026-01-10T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1768003200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]],"date-time":"2026-02-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770336000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":27,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["BMC Public Health"],"DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-026-26243-5","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,10]],"date-time":"2026-01-10T06:03:32Z","timestamp":1768025012000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Predictors of HIV treatment interruption among people living with HIV in 6 regions in Ghana: a retrospective cohort study"],"prefix":"10.1186","volume":"26","author":[{"given":"Williams","family":"Kwarah","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Jasmin","family":"Kwarah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Yakubu","family":"Alhassan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Frances Baaba da-Costa","family":"Vroom","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Duah","family":"Dwomoh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Samuel","family":"Bosomprah","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,10]]},"reference":[{"key":"26243_CR1","unstructured":"Global HIV. & AIDS statistics \u2014 Fact sheet | UNAIDS. 2025. https:\/\/www.unaids.org\/en\/resources\/fact-sheet. Accessed July 26."},{"key":"26243_CR2","unstructured":"The path that ends AIDS. UNAIDS global AIDS update 2023. U P D AT E; 2023."},{"key":"26243_CR3","unstructured":"Isahack J. 2024. HIV\/AIDS in the World. amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research."},{"key":"26243_CR4","unstructured":"2024 global AIDS report \u2014 The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads | UNAIDS. 2025. https:\/\/www.unaids.org\/en\/resources\/documents\/2024\/global-aids-update-2024. Accessed July 26."},{"key":"26243_CR5","unstructured":"Ghana | UNAIDS. 2025. June 5."},{"key":"26243_CR6","unstructured":"Ghana AIDSC. 2023. https:\/\/www.ghanaids.gov.gh\/. Accessed 22 October ."},{"key":"26243_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e298","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pmed.0040298","volume":"4","author":"S Rosen","year":"2007","unstructured":"Rosen S, Fox MP, Christopher JG. Patient retention in antiretroviral therapy programs in Sub-Saharan africa: A systematic review. PLoS Med. 2007;4:e298. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pmed.0040298.","journal-title":"PLoS Med"},{"key":"26243_CR8","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"29","DOI":"10.4314\/ahs.v21i1.6S","volume":"21","author":"M Nsoh","year":"2021","unstructured":"Nsoh M, Tshimwanga KE, Ngum BA, Mgasa A, Moses O, Otieno B, Moali N, Sirili NS, Atanga, Gregory Edie Halle-Ekane. Predictors of antiretroviral therapy interruptions and factors influencing return to care at the Nkolndongo health District, Cameroon. Afr Health Sci. 2021;21:29\u201338. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4314\/ahs.v21i1.6S.","journal-title":"Afr Health Sci"},{"key":"26243_CR9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Nhlongolwane N. and Tshivhase Shonisani. 2025. Predictors and barriers associated with Non-Adherence to ART by people living with HIV and AIDS in a selected local municipality of Limpopo Province, South Africa. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2174\/18746136-v17-230726-2023-2.","DOI":"10.2174\/18746136-v17-230726-2023-2"},{"key":"26243_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0300937","author":"S Ikpe","year":"2025","unstructured":"Ikpe S, Ikakke B, Ade A, Gambo R, Nowak JD, Sorkin M, Charurat TO\u2019Connor, and Kristen Stafford. Predictors of interruptions in antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV in nigeria: a retrospective cohort study using the Nigeria National data repository. PLOS ONE 20 Public Libr Science: e0300937. 2025. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0300937.","journal-title":"PLOS ONE 20 Public Libr Science: e0300937"},{"key":"26243_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Boadu I, Manu A, Aryeetey RNO, Kesse KA, Abdulai M, Acheampong E, Akparibo R. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV patients in ghana: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS Global Public Health 3 Public Libr Sci. 2023;e0002448. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pgph.0002448.","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pgph.0002448"},{"key":"26243_CR12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Obirikorang C, Selleh PK, Abledu JK, Chris Opoku F. 2013. Predictors of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV\/AIDS Patients in the Upper West Region of Ghana. International Scholarly Research Notices. 2013;873939. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1155\/2013\/873939.","DOI":"10.1155\/2013\/873939"},{"key":"26243_CR13","unstructured":"Consolidated-Guidelines-For-Hiv-Care-In-Ghana.pdf. 2025. https:\/\/www.differentiatedservicedelivery.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Consolidated-Guidelines-For-Hiv-Care-In-Ghana.pdf. Accessed 27 July."},{"key":"26243_CR14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Wells BJ, Kevin M, Chagin AS, Nowacki, Kattan MW. 2013. Strategies for Handling Missing Data in Electronic Health Record Derived Data. eGEMs 1: 1035. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.13063\/2327-9214.1035","DOI":"10.13063\/2327-9214.1035"},{"key":"26243_CR15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Andersen PK, Gill RD. Cox\u2019s regression model for counting processes: A large sample study. The Annals Statistics 10 Inst Math Stat. 1982;1100\u201320. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1214\/aos\/1176345976.","DOI":"10.1214\/aos\/1176345976"},{"key":"26243_CR16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e5790","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0005790","volume":"4","author":"MWG Brinkhof","year":"2009","unstructured":"Brinkhof MWG, Pujades-Rodriguez M, Egger M. Mortality of patients lost to follow-up in antiretroviral treatment programmes in resource-limited settings: systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 2009;4:e5790. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.0005790.","journal-title":"PLoS ONE"},{"key":"26243_CR17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"220","DOI":"10.1097\/QAI.0b013e31829ec485","volume":"64","author":"M Mann","year":"2013","unstructured":"Mann M, Diero L, Kemboi E, Mambo F, Rono M, Injera W, Delong A, et al. Antiretroviral treatment interruptions induced by the Kenyan postelection crisis are associated with virological failure. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013;64:220\u20134. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/QAI.0b013e31829ec485.","journal-title":"J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr"},{"key":"26243_CR18","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"662","DOI":"10.1111\/tmi.12690","volume":"21","author":"A Jiamsakul","year":"2016","unstructured":"Jiamsakul A, Kerr SJ, Ng OT, Lee MP, Chaiwarith R, Yunihastuti E, Van Nguyen K, et al. Effects of unplanned treatment interruptions on HIV treatment failure\u2013 results from TAHOD. Trop Med Int Health: TM IH. 2016;21:662\u201374. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/tmi.12690.","journal-title":"Trop Med Int Health: TM IH"},{"key":"26243_CR19","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e5","DOI":"10.4081\/idr.2013.s1.e5","volume":"5","author":"PS Pennings","year":"2013","unstructured":"Pennings PS. HIV drug resistance: problems and perspectives. Infect Disease Rep. 2013;5:e5. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4081\/idr.2013.s1.e5.","journal-title":"Infect Disease Rep"},{"key":"26243_CR20","unstructured":"PEPFAR study shows the deadly impact of stopping children\u2019s HIV treatment. 2025. aidsmap.com. March 12."},{"key":"26243_CR21","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1042","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-025-22254-w","volume":"25","author":"B Mensah","year":"2025","unstructured":"Mensah B, Ayiedu HE, Mensah-Brown FD, Partey C, Addo G, Buah GA, Afudego D Okyere, et al. Identifying risk factors for loss to follow-up in adults living with HIV in a high-burden district in Ghana. BMC Public Health. 2025;25:1042. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12889-025-22254-w.","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"26243_CR22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1176","DOI":"10.1186\/s12879-024-10089-6","volume":"24","author":"T Endebu","year":"2024","unstructured":"Endebu T, Taye G, Deressa W. Rate and predictors of loss to follow-up in HIV care in a low-resource setting: analyzing critical risk periods. BMC Infect Dis. 2024;24:1176. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12879-024-10089-6.","journal-title":"BMC Infect Dis"},{"key":"26243_CR23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Ma J, Jin Y, Jiao K, Wang Y, Gao L, Li X, Ma W. Antiretroviral treatment interruption and resumption within 16 weeks among HIV-positive adults in Jinan, China: a retrospective cohort study. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1137132. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1137132.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2023.1137132"},{"key":"26243_CR24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"e39","DOI":"10.1097\/QAI.0b013e318273ac48","volume":"62","author":"K Clouse","year":"2013","unstructured":"Clouse K, Pettifor AE, Maskew M, Bassett J, Van Rie A, Behets F, Gay C, Sanne I, Fox MP. Patient retention from HIV diagnosis through one year on antiretroviral therapy at a primary healthcare clinic in Johannesburg, South Africa. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 2013;62:e39\u201346. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/QAI.0b013e318273ac48.","journal-title":"J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr"},{"key":"26243_CR25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Moomba K, Okonji EF, Crowley T, Brian Van W. 2025. Losing Their Way: A Cohort Analysis of Retention in Care Among Adolescents on Antiretroviral Therapy in Lusaka District, Zambia. Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care. J int assoc provid AIDS Care (JIAPAC) 24. SAGE Publications Inc: 23259582251372443. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/23259582251372443.","DOI":"10.1177\/23259582251372443"},{"key":"26243_CR26","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2194","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-021-12264-9","volume":"21","author":"S Tomescu","year":"2021","unstructured":"Tomescu S, Crompton T, Adebayo J, Kinge CW, Akpan F, Rennick M, Chasela C, Ondura E, Dauda DS, Pedro T, Pisa. Factors associated with an interruption in treatment of people living with HIV in USAID-supported States in nigeria: a retrospective study from 2000\u20132020. BMC Public Health. 2021;21:2194. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12889-021-12264-9.","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"26243_CR27","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Magura J, Nhari SR, Nzimakwe TI. 2025. Barriers to ART adherence in sub-Saharan Africa: a scoping review toward achieving UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. Frontiers in Public Health 13. Frontiers. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1609743.","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1609743"},{"key":"26243_CR28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"19","DOI":"10.1186\/s12981-023-00512-4","volume":"20","author":"EL Mtisi","year":"2023","unstructured":"Mtisi EL, Stella E, Mushy SG, Mkawe A, Ndjovu E, Mboggo BS, Mlay F, Ngalesoni, Aisa Muya. Risk factors for interruption in treatment among HIV-infected adolescence attending health care and treatment clinics in Tanzania. AIDS Res Therapy. 2023;20:19. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12981-023-00512-4.","journal-title":"AIDS Res Therapy"},{"key":"26243_CR29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"77","DOI":"10.15171\/ijhpm.2014.65","volume":"3","author":"AM Mosadeghrad","year":"2014","unstructured":"Mosadeghrad AM. Factors influencing healthcare service quality. Int J Health Policy Manage. 2014;3:77\u201389. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.15171\/ijhpm.2014.65.","journal-title":"Int J Health Policy Manage"},{"key":"26243_CR30","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"5","DOI":"10.7309\/jmtm.6.1.2","volume":"6","author":"SS Jong","year":"2017","unstructured":"Jong SS, Cuca Y, Thompson LM. Meta-analysis of mobile phone reminders on HIV patients\u2019 retention to care. J Mob Technol Med. 2017;6:5\u201318. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.7309\/jmtm.6.1.2.","journal-title":"J Mob Technol Med"},{"key":"26243_CR31","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Dvora JOSEPHDAVEY, Jos\u00e9 Ant\u00f3nio NHAVOTO, Orvalho AUGUSTO, Walter PONCE, Dalia TRACA, Alexandre NGUIMFACK, Cesar PALHA DE SOUSA. 2016. SMSa\u00fade: Evaluating mobile phone text reminders to improve retention in HIV care for patients on antiretroviral therapy in Mozambique. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr. 1999;73:e23\u2013e30. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/QAI.0000000000001115.","DOI":"10.1097\/QAI.0000000000001115"},{"key":"26243_CR32","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Improving Retention in Care and Promoting Adherence to HIV Treatment. Protocol for a multisite randomized controlled trial of mobile phone text Messaging. JMIR Res Protocols. 2020;9. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2196\/15680.","DOI":"10.2196\/15680"},{"key":"26243_CR33","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"54","DOI":"10.1186\/s12961-023-01010-9","volume":"21","author":"M Abdulai","year":"2023","unstructured":"Abdulai M, Ali FEF, Mevissen V, Marien RAC, Ruiter SO-A, Asante KP, Arjan ER, Bos. A qualitative analysis of factors influencing the implementation of antiretroviral treatment adherence policy in ghana: stakeholders perspective. Health Res Policy Syst. 2023;21:54. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12961-023-01010-9.","journal-title":"Health Res Policy Syst"},{"key":"26243_CR34","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"227990362513307","DOI":"10.1177\/22799036251330711","volume":"14","author":"A Ajeh","year":"2025","unstructured":"Ajeh A, Attah P, Ibrahim AA, Ogbonna RA, Audu E, Yakubu S, Eze O, Andrew Awuah Wireko. Retention of HIV clients in care: A comparative study to highlight the benefit of HIV clinical mentorship program in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. J Public Health Res. 2025;14:22799036251330711. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/22799036251330711.","journal-title":"J Public Health Res"},{"key":"26243_CR35","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Maskew M, Benade M, Huber A, Pascoe S, Sande L. and Sydney Rosen. 2023. Patterns of retention in care during clients\u2019 first 12 months after HIV treatment initiation in South africa: a retrospective cohort analysis using routinely collected data. medRxiv. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1101\/2023.06.13.23291348.","DOI":"10.1101\/2023.06.13.23291348"},{"key":"26243_CR36","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"43","DOI":"10.4103\/0300-1652.149170","volume":"56","author":"AO Ebonyi","year":"2015","unstructured":"Ebonyi AO, Emeka U, Ejeliogu SE, Okpe DD, Shwe, Esther S, Yiltok MO, Ochoga, Oguche S. Factors associated with antiretroviral treatment interruption in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1-infected children attending the Jos university teaching Hospital, Jos, Nigeria. Nigerian Med Journal: J Nigeria Med Association. 2015;56:43\u20137. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.4103\/0300-1652.149170.","journal-title":"Nigerian Med Journal: J Nigeria Med Association"},{"key":"26243_CR37","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Sarfo FS, Maame A, Sarfo, Chadwick D. 2016. Incidence and risk factors for neuropsychiatric events among Ghanaian HIV patients on long-term non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based therapy. Eneurologicalsci. 3. Elsevier: 21\u201325.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ensci.2015.12.002"},{"key":"26243_CR38","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Simpson KN, Kristin A, Hanson G, Harding S, Haider M, Tawadrous A, Khachatryan CL, Pashos, Wu AW. Review of the impact of NNRTI-based HIV treatment regimens on patient-reported disease burden. AIDS Care 26 Informa UK Ltd. 2014;466\u201375. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1080\/09540121.2013.841825.","DOI":"10.1080\/09540121.2013.841825"},{"key":"26243_CR39","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Vanangamudi M, Kurup S. and Vigneshwaran Namasivayam. 2020. Non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs): A brief overview of clinically approved drugs and combination regimens. Curr Opin Pharmacol. 54. Elsevier: 179\u2013187.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.coph.2020.10.009"},{"key":"26243_CR40","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"On behalf of the HIV STAR Study Group, Bunupuradah T, Chetchotisakd P, Jirajariyavej S, Valcour V, Bowonwattanuwong C, Munsakul W et al. 2012. Neurocognitive impairment in patients randomized to second-line lopinavir\/ritonavir-based antiretroviral therapy vs. lopinavir\/ritonavir monotherapy. J Neurovirol. 18. Springer Science and Business Media LLC: 479\u2013487. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s13365-012-0127-9.","DOI":"10.1007\/s13365-012-0127-9"},{"key":"26243_CR41","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","unstructured":"Kanters S, Vitoria M, Zoratti M, Doherty M, Penazzato M, Rangaraj A, Ford N et al. 2020. Comparative efficacy, tolerability and safety of dolutegravir and efavirenz 400\u00a0mg among antiretroviral therapies for first-line HIV treatment: A systematic literature review and network meta-analysis. eClinicalMedicine 28. Elsevier. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.eclinm.2020.100573.","DOI":"10.1016\/j.eclinm.2020.100573"},{"key":"26243_CR42","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"3547","DOI":"10.2147\/DDDT.S84850","volume":"9","author":"CE Kandel","year":"2015","unstructured":"Kandel CE, Sharon LW. Dolutegravir \u2013 a review of the pharmacology, efficacy, and safety in the treatment of HIV. Drug Des Devel Ther. 2015;9:3547\u201355. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.2147\/DDDT.S84850.","journal-title":"Drug Des Devel Ther"},{"key":"26243_CR43","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"96","DOI":"10.1186\/s12981-024-00681-w","volume":"21","author":"L Yan","year":"2024","unstructured":"Yan L, Henegar CE, Marconi VC, Gordon KS, Hicks C, Vannappagari V, Justice AC, and Mihaela Aslan. Effectiveness of dolutegravir-based regimens compared to raltegravir-, elvitegravir-, bictegravir, and darunavir-based regimens among older adults with HIV in the veterans aging cohort study (VACS). AIDS Res Therapy. 2024;21:96. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12981-024-00681-w.","journal-title":"AIDS Res Therapy"}],"container-title":["BMC Public Health"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12889-026-26243-5","content-type":"text\/html","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12889-026-26243-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/content\/pdf\/10.1186\/s12889-026-26243-5.pdf","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,6]],"date-time":"2026-02-06T15:26:02Z","timestamp":1770391562000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1186\/s12889-026-26243-5"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,10]]},"references-count":43,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,12]]}},"alternative-id":["26243"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1186\/s12889-026-26243-5","relation":{"has-preprint":[{"id-type":"doi","id":"10.21203\/rs.3.rs-7871647\/v1","asserted-by":"object"}]},"ISSN":["1471-2458"],"issn-type":[{"value":"1471-2458","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2026,1,10]]},"assertion":[{"value":"15 October 2025","order":1,"name":"received","label":"Received","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"6 January 2026","order":2,"name":"accepted","label":"Accepted","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"value":"10 January 2026","order":3,"name":"first_online","label":"First Online","group":{"name":"ArticleHistory","label":"Article History"}},{"order":1,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"This study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and approved by the Ghana Health Service Ethical Review Committee (GHS-ERC) of the Ghana Health Service, Ministry of Health, Ghana, with approval number GHS-ERC:003\/08\/24. The requirement for written informed consent was waived by the ethics committee because the study used de-identified retrospective data. Further, adequate permissions were received from the NACP prior to the extraction of the datasets from the HIV eTracker.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Ethics approval and consent to participate"}},{"value":"Not applicable.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Consent for publication"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Competing interests"}}],"article-number":"503"}}