Fitsum Terefe Asfaw^1,, Birukti Gebreyohannes Habtezgi^2,, Tewodros Kassahun Tarekegn^2,, Akinahom Tesfaye Asressahegn³, Michael Yefrashowa Betemariam², Feven Negasi Abriha⁴, Erdachew Gallo Beyene¹, Aragaw Birhane Kassaw³, Rediet Abebe Mekonnen⁵, Rediet Habtu Lebelo⁶, Tigist Delelegn woldemicheal⁷, Helen Assefa Berhe⁸, Solomon Endale Dagnachew², Elul Simeneh Abiy⁹, Betelehem Lulseged Yimer⁹, Michael Million Minase⁸

Back Ground: Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is one of the public health important diseases around the globe. It continues to be a major global public health issue. Late presentation for HIV care is associated with increased morbidity and mortality, increased rate of ART drug resistance and occurrence of complications, increased healthcare expenses and possibly increased HIV transmission rates. Therefore, the success of large-scale antiretroviral therapy programs depends on early initiation of HIV/AIDs are. The purpose of the study is to assess the prevalence of late presentation to HIV/AIDS care and will be a base for further studies. Objectives: The objective of this study is to assess the proportion of late presentation to HIV/AIDS care among patient attending at ART clinic of Yekatit 12 hospital medical college. Methods: Study Area: The study was conducted at Yekatit 12 hospital medical college ART clinic, Addis Ababa Ethiopia. Study design and sampling technique: A retrospective cross sectional study design was employed. All newly enrolled HIV positive patients in the study period were involved in the study. Method of data collection and analysis: Retrospective data was collected from database and patient’s card, from September, 2018 to September, 2020.using checklists which is adapted from different literatures, ART log books and previous similar study and was organized according to study objectives. Descriptive analysis was done using SPSS software and data were presented with tables and charts. Result: From a total of 229 study groups majority were females 64% with dominant age group of 25-44 yrs. 44% were married and 33.6% were attended elementary school. The overall late presenters to HIV/AIDS care was 49.7% with CD4 cell count < 200cells/mm3 40.6% and WHO clinical stage 3 and 4 30.1%. The average CD4 cell count was 275 cells/mm3. The median time to present for HIV care after initial HIV diagnosis was 4 months. The most common opportunistic infection was TB infection (pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB). Conclusion: Nearly half of the patients were late presenters categorized by either by CD4 count or WHO clinical staging. One third of them were presented with sign symptoms of advanced HIV infection.

late presentation, HIV/AIDS care