Facilitators and Barriers to Retention in HIV Care among HIV Infected MSM Attending Community Health Center Yaba, Lagos Nigeria

Background: The burden of HIV infection among men who have sex with men (MSM) has posed a huge public health threat to the developing country like Nigeria. Identification of effective strategies to improve their retention in HIV care especially for young HIV infected MSM is critical for overall success in scaling down the national burden of HIV/AIDS. The aim of this study was to assess the facilitators and barriers to retention in HIV care among HIV infected MSM attending community health center, Yaba Lagos Nigeria.

Methods: A two months (May –June,2016) exploratory qualitative research study was conducted among 181 respondents enrolled into HIV care within 12 months that attend community health center, Yaba Lagos Nigeria. A pretested and semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect information on the specific facilitators and barriers to retention in HIV care among respondents. Data entries and analysis were done using SPSS package version 20. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize quantitative variables, and frequency tables were generated for the relevant variables.

Results: The median age (in years) of the participants sampled was 24. The study identified friendly clinic service 44%, having positive relationship with clinic staff 16%, friendly and secured environment 20% as the major facilitators to retention in HIV care while implicating distance 36% and self -denial 21% as major barriers to retention in HIV care among the respondents.

Conclusion: Majority of the respondents were retained in HIV care services due to the available friendly clinic services and conducive environment instituted at the service provision site.