Utilisation of Antiretroviral Therapy Services Among Adolescents Living with HIV in Kaduna State

Adolescents living with HIV represent one of the most underserved groups in Nigeria's antiretroviral therapy (ART) programme, with evidence of poor treatment adherence, high loss to follow-up, and inadequate viral suppression compared to adult cohorts. This study evaluates the utilisation of ART services, including enrolment rates, adherence patterns, and retention, among adolescents aged 10 to 19 years at ART clinics in Kaduna State, North Central Nigeria. A retrospective cohort analysis will extract five years of patient-level data (2019 to 2024) from the HIV/AIDS programme management information system at five ART-dispensing facilities in Kaduna North, Kaduna South, and Zaria. Key indicators assessed will include time from HIV diagnosis to ART initiation, current regimen type, adherence rates by pharmacy refill records, viral load suppression, and annual retention in care rates. Comparative analysis will explore differences in outcomes between adolescents who acquired HIV vertically versus through horizontal transmission. Published PEPFAR programme data indicate adolescent viral suppression rates in Nigeria fall 10 to 15 percentage points below adult rates. Findings will characterise the ART utilisation landscape for adolescents in Kaduna State and generate recommendations for adolescent-friendly service adaptations, including peer support integration and simplified refill models. Keywords: antiretroviral therapy, adolescents, HIV, Kaduna State, treatment adherence