Socio-demographic Factors Associated with Weight Gain Following Transition to Dolutegravir-Based Regimens Among People Living with HIV in Homa Bay County, Kenya

Vollständiger Abstract

Worum geht es in dieser Arbeit?

Background. Weight gain after transitioning to dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen is an issue for people living with HIV (PLHIV). Although DTG enhances virological results, it causes weight gain leading to overweight. Accordingly, this study explored socio-demographic factors associated to weight gain among PLHIV after transitioning to DTG based regimens in Homa Bay County, Kenya. Method. A mixed-design quantitative study with retrospective cohort and cross-sectional design was performed in seven public health facilities in Homa Bay County between October 2025 and March 2026. Structured questionnaires were used to gather socio-demographic data, whereas medical records gathered clinical data. SPSS 27 was used to perform descriptive statistics, t-tests, one-way ANOVA, and multiple linear regression analyses. Results. A total of 540 participants were analysed, with 55.9% of them being female, 34.6% aged 30-39 years, and 72.6% living in rural areas. Female sex (p = 0.001), increasing age (p < 0.001), education level (p = 0.015), occupation (p = 0.029), and place of residence (p = 0.033) were significantly associated with weight gain in bivariate analyses. Marital status (p = 0.160) was not associated with weight gain. In the adjusted regression model, female sex (β = 0.81, 95% CI: 0.34–1.28), increasing age (β = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.03–0.11), secondary education (β = 0.42, 95% CI: 0.03–0.81), and formal employment (β = 0.55, 95% CI: 0.10–1.00) were associated with greater weight gain. Conclusion. Female sex, older age, secondary education, and formal employment were independently related to weight gain post-DTG-based regimens transition. Early detection and monitoring of weight gain of PLHIV on DTG-based therapy could help address this issue.