Factors contributing to defaulting on antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV in selected health facilities in Maswa District, Tanzania.

This mixed-methods study in Maswa District, Tanzania, found that nearly one in five people living with HIV (21.9%) defaulted from antiretroviral therapy. Key predictors of default included advanced HIV disease (WHO Stage 4), unsuppressed viral load, clinical instability, and delayed ART initiation. Qualitative findings identified stigma, financial challenges, long travel distances, staffing shortages, and weak patient follow-up systems as major barriers to retention, while social support and integrated healthcare services facilitated continued treatment. The study highlights the need for targeted counselling, stigma reduction, stronger follow-up mechanisms, and health system improvements to enhance ART retention and treatment outcomes.

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