{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,5]],"date-time":"2026-02-05T08:28:53Z","timestamp":1770280133409,"version":"3.49.0"},"reference-count":42,"publisher":"Public Library of Science (PLoS)","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,4]],"date-time":"2026-02-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770163200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["www.plosone.org"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["PLoS One"],"abstract":"<jats:sec id=\"sec001\">\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Returning to treatment following interruptions is crucial for achieving optimal HIV care outcomes. In Uganda, despite a 20% treatment interruption rate, only 58% of clients successfully resume treatment. Evidence on determinants of returning to treatment remains limited. This study aimed to identify determinants of return to HIV treatment after interruption in Katakwi District, Uganda.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec002\">\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>We conducted a cross-sectional study at three high-volume antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics in Katakwi District. Data were collected using face-to-face interviews from study adult participants and analyzed using Poisson generalized estimating equations (GEE) with robust standard errors to identify factors independently associated with a return to care.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec003\">\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>The rate of return to care was 63.9%. Clients without an occupation were less likely to return (aRR\u2009=\u20090.80, 95% CI: 0.73\u20130.88, p\u2009&lt;\u20090.001). Surprisingly, those living within 5 km of a facility were also less likely to return compared to those 5\u201310 km away (aRR\u2009=\u20090.78, 95% CI: 0.63\u20130.95, p\u2009=\u20090.019). Positive community beliefs about treatment adherence significantly increased the likelihood of returning (aRR\u2009=\u20091.18, 95% CI: 1.06\u20131.33, p\u2009=\u20090.003), as did belonging to a community support group (aRR\u2009=\u20091.16, 95% CI: 1.01\u20131.39, p\u2009=\u20090.04).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec id=\"sec004\">\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Return to HIV care was associated with occupation, distance to the facility, community beliefs, and belonging to a community support group. Interventions to improve re-engagement should include targeted economic support for unemployed clients, community-based anti-stigma campaigns, flexible clinic hours, and improved rural access through mobile clinics. Continuous client education at both the facility and community levels is essential.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1371\/journal.pone.0337637","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,4]],"date-time":"2026-02-04T18:28:16Z","timestamp":1770229696000},"page":"e0337637","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1371\/journal.pone.corrections_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Determinants of return to HIV treatment after interruption on ART among HIV positive clients in Katakwi District, Uganda"],"prefix":"10.1371","volume":"21","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-8467-553X","authenticated-orcid":true,"given":"William","family":"Okello","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Saadick","family":"Mugerwa Ssentongo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Bonniface","family":"Oryokot","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Baker","family":"Bakashaba","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ronald","family":"Opito","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Bosco","family":"Opio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Christine","family":"Acio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"340","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,4]]},"reference":[{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0337637.ref001","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-021-12264-9","article-title":"Factors associated with an interruption in treatment of people living with HIV in USAID-supported states in Nigeria: a retrospective study from 2000\u20132020","volume":"21","author":"S Tomescu","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0337637.ref002","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"807446","DOI":"10.3389\/fphar.2021.807446","article-title":"Barriers and Enablers for Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among People Living With HIV\/AIDS in the Era of COVID-19: A Qualitative Study From Pakistan","volume":"12","author":"A Ahmed","year":"2022","journal-title":"Front Pharmacol"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0337637.ref003","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1596","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-021-11613-y","article-title":"Strategies to reengage patients lost to follow up in HIV care in high income countries, a scoping review","volume":"21","author":"J Palacio-Vieira","year":"2021","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"issue":"1","key":"pone.0337637.ref004","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7768-z","article-title":"Factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral treatment among adults accessing care from private health facilities in Malawi","volume":"19","author":"L Chirambo","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"pone.0337637.ref005","unstructured":"UNAIDS. 2024 global AIDS report \u2014 The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads. http:\/\/www.wipo.int\/"},{"key":"pone.0337637.ref006","unstructured":"UNAIDS. 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