Youths’ satisfaction with youth-friendly services and its relationship with retention in HIV care and viral load suppression at a tertiary hospital in Enugu State: a retrospective cross-sectional study with retrospective record review
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Nursing, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital
- 2Department of Child Health, World Bank Africa Centre of Excellence for Public Health and Toxicological Research, University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital
- 3Ministry of Defence, Area 10
- 4Department of Nursing Sciences, University of Nigeria
- 5Department of Medical Biochemistry, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital
- 6Department of Paediatrics, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital
- 7Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria
Abstract
Background HIV/AIDS has claimed over 40.1 million lives, including youths aged 15–24 years, since the start of the epidemic in 1981. Sadly, there are still reports of poor retention in care and poor viral load suppression among the youths. Youth-friendly HIV services are intended to improve engagement in care among adolescents and young people living with HIV, but evidence on how perceived satisfaction with these services relates to retention and viral suppression in routine tertiary care remains limited. This study assessed the youths’ satisfaction with youth-friendly services (YFS) and their relationship with retention in HIV care and viral load suppression at the HIV clinic, UNTH, Enugu. Methods This cross-sectional survey was linked to retrospective abstraction of routine clinical data from electronic medical records. The study included all 178 active youths aged 15–24 years who received HIV care at the ART clinic between July 2022 and June 2023 and met the inclusion criteria. Satisfaction with youth-friendly services was assessed using a structured questionnaire, while clinic visit records and the most recent viral load results were abstracted from medical records. Good retention was defined as three or more documented clinic visits within the 12 months. Viral suppression was defined as viral load < 1000 copies/mL. Associations were assessed using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, as appropriate. Results Among 178 youths, 169 (94.9%) were very satisfied with youth-friendly services, 159 (89.3%) had good retention in care, and 164 (92.1%) achieved viral suppression. Satisfaction with youth-friendly services was not significantly associated with retention in care (Fisher’s exact p = 1.000). In unadjusted analysis, retention in HIV care was significantly associated with viral load suppression (χ²=34.616, p < 0.001). Conclusion YFS were well rated among active youths in care, but satisfaction was not associated with retention. The findings suggest that maintaining clinic engagement may be more directly linked to viral suppression than satisfaction ratings alone. Because inactive or disengaged youths were not included, the results should be interpreted cautiously and are not generalisable to all youths enrolled in HIV care. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
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BibTeX
@article{orjiokafor2026youths,
title = {{Youths’ satisfaction with youth-friendly services and its relationship with retention in HIV care and viral load suppression at a tertiary hospital in Enugu State: a retrospective cross-sectional study with retrospective record review}},
author = {Cheta Euphemia Orji-Okafor and Chinemerem Eleke and Godian Chibueze Ezema and Chijioke Oliver Nwodoh and Uchenna Valentine Chukwuma and Chibuzo Obiora Ndiokwelu and Peace Njideka Iheanacho and Cajetan Chigozie Onyedum and Ijeoma Lewechi Okoronkwo},
journal = {BMC Health Services Research},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1186/s12913-026-15182-x},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15182-x},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Youths’ satisfaction with youth-friendly services and its relationship with retention in HIV care and viral load suppression at a tertiary hospital in Enugu State: a retrospective cross-sectional study with retrospective record review
AU - Cheta Euphemia Orji-Okafor
AU - Chinemerem Eleke
AU - Godian Chibueze Ezema
AU - Chijioke Oliver Nwodoh
AU - Uchenna Valentine Chukwuma
AU - Chibuzo Obiora Ndiokwelu
AU - Peace Njideka Iheanacho
AU - Cajetan Chigozie Onyedum
AU - Ijeoma Lewechi Okoronkwo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - BMC Health Services Research
DO - 10.1186/s12913-026-15182-x
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-026-15182-x
AB - Background HIV/AIDS has claimed over 40.1 million lives, including youths aged 15–24 years, since the start of the epidemic in 1981. Sadly, there are still reports of poor retention in care and poor viral load suppression among the youths. Youth-friendly HIV services are intended to improve engagement in care among adolescents and young people living with HIV, but evidence on how perceived satisfaction with these services relates to retention and viral suppression in routine tertiary care remains limited. This study assessed the youths’ satisfaction with youth-friendly services (YFS) and their relationship with retention in HIV care and viral load suppression at the HIV clinic, UNTH, Enugu. Methods This cross-sectional survey was linked to retrospective abstraction of routine clinical data from electronic medical records. The study included all 178 active youths aged 15–24 years who received HIV care at the ART clinic between July 2022 and June 2023 and met the inclusion criteria. Satisfaction with youth-friendly services was assessed using a structured questionnaire, while clinic visit records and the most recent viral load results were abstracted from medical records. Good retention was defined as three or more documented clinic visits within the 12 months. Viral suppression was defined as viral load < 1000 copies/mL. Associations were assessed using Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests, as appropriate. Results Among 178 youths, 169 (94.9%) were very satisfied with youth-friendly services, 159 (89.3%) had good retention in care, and 164 (92.1%) achieved viral suppression. Satisfaction with youth-friendly services was not significantly associated with retention in care (Fisher’s exact p = 1.000). In unadjusted analysis, retention in HIV care was significantly associated with viral load suppression (χ²=34.616, p < 0.001). Conclusion YFS were well rated among active youths in care, but satisfaction was not associated with retention. The findings suggest that maintaining clinic engagement may be more directly linked to viral suppression than satisfaction ratings alone. Because inactive or disengaged youths were not included, the results should be interpreted cautiously and are not generalisable to all youths enrolled in HIV care. Clinical trial number Not applicable.
SN - 1472-6963
ER -