2024-04-182024-04-182024-03-21https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12503/32742Research Appreciation Day Award Winner - School of Public Health, 2024 Community Engaged Research AwardFACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THE ACCEPTABILITY OF LOPINAVIR/RITONAVIR FORMULATIONS AMONG CHILDREN LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS ATTENDING CARE AND TREATMENT CLINICS IN MBEYA AND MWANZA, TANZANIA Authors: Jiwa NA[1],*, Ketang’enyi E1, Nganyanyuka K1, Mbwanji R1, Mwenisongole D1, Masuka E1, Brown M1, Charles M1, Mwasomola DL2 , Nyangalima T[2], Olomi W[3], Komba L1, Gwimile J1, Kasambala B1 and Mwita L1 *Corresponding author: Email addresses: njiwa@baylortanzania.or.tz [njiwa@baylortanzania.or.tz] (Nadiya Alnoor Jiwa- PI and Pharmacist) and lmwita@baylortanzania.or.tz [lmwita@baylortanzania.or.tz] (Dr Lumumba Mwita- Author and Executive Director). URL: https://www.texaschildrensglobalhealth.org/tanzania [https://www.texaschildrensglobalhealth.org/tanzania] and https://baylortanzania.or.tz/ [https://baylortanzania.or.tz/] [1] Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation, Tanzania. [2] Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital (MZRH) [3] National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR)- Mbeya Medical Research Center (MMRC) ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION Children living with chronic illnesses are offered formulations based on manufacturer and distributor research. The aim of this study is to better understand the perspectives of children and their caregivers in accepting Lopinavir/ritonavir (LPV/r) formulations. METHODS 362 participants were recruited from two pediatric HIV/AIDS clinics in Mbeya and Mwanza, Tanzania, from December 2021 to May 2022. A translated questionnaire was piloted and validated at both clinics, followed by the implementation of a cross-sectional study. RESULTS 169 participants (47.1%) reported general difficulties in swallowing, regardless of formulation, while 34.3% and 38.5% reported vomiting tablets and syrups, respectively. Statistical significance is shown to support that children can swallow medications if they can eat stiffened porridge (Ugali). This correlated with the lower incidence of younger children being able to swallow compared to older children (above six years of age). Children older than six years preferred taking tablets (independent of daily dosage) better than other formulations. Significantly, older children who attend school were associated with high odds of swallowing medicine (AOR = 3.06, 95%CI; 1.32–7.05); however, age was not found to be statistically related to ease of administration for Lopinavir/Ritonavir in this study. CONCLUSIONS Lopinavir/Ritonavir tablets remain the most accepted formulation among children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS. This study highlights the impact of various factors affecting the acceptability of pediatric formulation, suggesting that children younger than six years, unable to eat Ugali and not attending schools may be most vulnerable regarding their ability to accept Lopinavir/Ritonavir formulations. Further studies are needed to assess the acceptability of other medications in chronically ill children. Paper published on January 2nd, 2024 and available on: https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0292424 [https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0292424] Acknowledgement: Am grateful to Dr Scott Walters in his immense support for me to continue propagating this research from my previous work in my home, Tanzania Nadiya Alnoor Jiwa, Eunice Ketang’enyi, Kapongola Nganyanyuka, Ruth Mbwanji, Danistan Mwenisongole, Eutropia Masuka, Mary Brown, Mary Charles, Davance Leonard Mwasomola, Thomas Nyangalima, Willyhelmina Olomi, Lilian Komba, Judith Gwimile, Bertha Kasambala, Lumumba Mwita Published: January 2, 2024 https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292424 [https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292424]enposter