Abstract
BACKGROUND: HIV drug resistance (DR) mutations can compromise antiretroviral therapy (ART) success among children living with HIV (CLHIV). We conducted a secondary analysis using data from a randomized control trial for ART monitoring among CLHIV in Kisumu County, Kenya from 2019 to 2023, to assess clinical, psychosocial, and structural factors associated with HIV DR. METHODS: 704 CLHIV were followed for 12+ months, with characteristics captured at enrollment and follow-up visits in the "parent" randomized-controlled-trial (of point-of-care plasma viral load testing and for viremias ≥ 1000 copies/mL HIV genotyping for DR vs. standard-of-care) and an observational "extension" substudy (of participants on a dolutegravir-containing ART with genotyping performed on viremic specimens ≥ 200 copies/mL). A multivariate modified Poisson regression model was used to analyze factors associated with sequences yielding a Stanford HIVDR database DR penalty score (DR-PS) ≥ 30 to a nucleos(t)ides and/or non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor, protease inhibitor (PI), and/or integrase inhibitor (INSTI). RESULTS: Among 113 (16.1%) participants who underwent genotyping, 93 (82.3%) had a DR-PS ≥ 30. DR-PS ≥ 30 were associated with age 1-5 years (adjusted risk ratio (ARR) = 1.84; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.07, 3.14), history of viremia ≥ 1000 copies/mL (ARR = 4.18; 95% CI: 2.77, 6.31), prescription of a PI- (ARR = 6.05; 95% CI: 3.43, 10.68) or INSTI-containing regimen (ARR = 1.83; 95% CI: 1.08, 3.11), poor adherence to ART (ARR = 1.91; 95% CI: 1.32, 2.76), lack of caregiver confidence in ART administration (ARR = 1.89; 95% CI: 1.11, 3.22), and mid-sized clinic populations (ARR = 0.55; 95% CI: 0.33, 0.92). CONCLUSION: Addressing social factors associated with DR-PS ≥ 30 may improve ART success among CLHIV.