Correlates of virological non-suppression among children and adolescents aged 5-19 years on Dolutegravir-based regimens attending Gulu regional referral hospital, Northern Uganda: a mixed methods cross-sectional study

Background Viral suppression has been sub-optimal among children and adolescent in Uganda, despite a near-universal transition to the much effective Dolutegravir-based regimens. Therefore this study was aimed at determining the prevalence of virological non-suppression and its associated correlates among children and adolescents aged 5-19 years on Dolutegravir-based regimens. Methods A mixed methods cross-sectional study was conducted among 303 children and adolescents aged 5-19 years on Dolutegravir-based regimens from January 2021 to December 2022. The chi-square likelihood ratio test and Modified Poisson regression analyses were used to identify correlates significantly associated with virological non-suppression. Purposive and convenient sampling were done and interviews analyzed using manual thematic content analysis. Results Virological non-suppression prevalence was at 12.2% (95% CI: 8.5% - 16.0%). Parental status (being single orphan, adjusted Prevalence Ratio (aPR: 5.4 [95% CI: 1.81-15.90], p = Conclusion The prevalence of virological non-suppression among children and adolescents aged 5-19 years on Dolutegravir-based regimens was 12.2%. This was relatively lower in comparison to other studies conducted in Uganda and other Sub-Saharan African countries but short of the UNAIDS third 95% target for viral suppression.