ABSTRACT

Back ground : Human immunodeficiency virus /Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a chronic communicable disease with devastating global socio- economic, and political impacts commonly affecting the young and early adult populations. Ethiopia is doing well in controlling HIV/AIDS epidemic infection among African countries.

Objective: This study set out to determine mortality rate and its predictors among adults on antiretroviral therapy at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, northwest Ethiopia.

Methods A hospital-based retrospective follow-up study was conducted from February to March 2018. A computer generated simple random sample selected 480 cards of patients on antiretroviral therapy who were enrolled between February 2010 to January 2018. Epi-data Version 4.2 software were used for data entry and SPSS Version 25 for management and analysis. An adjusted hazard rate with 95% confidence interval was used to identify significant predictors of mortality.

Results : The mortality rate was about 3.9 per 100 person-years. Cotrimoxazole prophylactic therapy  (AHR: 2.99; 95 % CI: 1.58, 5.70),  being single  (AHR: 2.37: 95 % CI: 1.15, 4.87),  non-disclosed status (AHR: 7.77; 95 % CI: 3.76, 16.06),  anemia (AHR: 2.16; 95% CI: 1.14, 4.09), bedridden (AHR: 6.11; 95 % CI: 2.42, 15.41) or ambulatory (AHR: 2.16; 95 %: 1.04, 4.51), presence of opportunistic infections (OIs) (AHR: 5.02; 95 % CI: 1.70, 14.83) and tuberculosis (TB) co-infection (AHR: 5.57; 95 % CI: 2.23, 13.88) were the significant predictors.

Conclusion and recommendation  : This study had a high mortality rate. Being single, bedridden, TB co-infection, anemia, and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis were the predictors of mortality. Therefore, psychological support & close follow-up for single, non-disclosed, non-adherent patients & early detection & treatment of anemia, tuberculosis and OIs to reduce mortality are recommended.

Key words: HIV, ART, mortality, predictors of mortality, Debre Markos, Ethiopia.