Background As the World Health Organization (WHO) and its joint partners such as USAIDS target achieving 90% sustained virological suppression among children and adolescents living with Human Immunodeficience Virus (HIV)/AIDS, it is imperative to elucidate the current prevalence and factors associated with virological treatment failure for formulation of appropriate strategies. This study was conducted determine the prevalence and factors associated with virological treatment failure among children and adolescents with HIV/AIDS on antiretroviral therapy (ART) attending HIV/AIDS care clinics in Dodoma, Central Tanzania. Methods This was a cross-sectional study of children aged 1–19 years attending 3 HIV/AIDS care clinics in Dodoma (central Tanzania) from November 2018 to February 2019. Sociodemographic and clinical factors were documented, HIV viral load and CD4+ T lymphocytes were evaluated for children on ART for ≥6 months. The primary outcomes were the prevalence and factors associated with viralogic treatment failure. Results Of 300 children enrolled, 102 (34%) had virological treatment failure. Poor adherence to ART (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 3.221; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.867–5.558; P = .032), nevirapine regimen (AOR = 3.185; 95% CI, 1.473–6.886; P ≤ .001), not using cotrimoxazole prophylaxis (AOR = 25.56; 95% CI, 3.15–27.55; P = .002) and nondisclosure of HIV status to others (AOR = 7.741; 95% CI, 2.351–25.489; P = .001) were independently associated with virological treatment failure. Conclusions Current prevalence of virological treatment failure among children and adolescents living with HIV on ART remain high. Factors such as ART adherence, nevirapine based regimen, HIV status disclosure to those caring for the child need to be addressed to achieve sustained virological suppression.

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To evaluate the performance of the modified Keith Edwards TB clinical diagnostic tool among HIV infected children. Methods: Cross sectional study of 252 HIV infected children < 15 years old suspected with TB at four HIV/AIDS Care Clinics in Dodoma, Tanzania from November 2018 -March 2019. The modified Keith Edwards TB clinical diagnostic tool was compared to gastric aspirates, lymphnode aspirates or sputum gene x-pert MTB/RIF and TB culture. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive value of the clinical tool were determined. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: Out of 252 children evaluated, 13.5% (34/252) had TB using the clinical diagnostic tool and 5.2% (13/252) had culture positive TB. The sensitivity of the clinical tool was 76.9%, specificity of 90%. Culture positive TB predictors were lymphadenopathy (AOR 13.74,) p value < 0.001), weight loss (AOR 3.19,95%CI (1.38 -7.36) p value 0.007), and difficulty breathing (AOR 7.25,) p value 0.012). Conclusion:The utility of the modified Keith Edwards clinical diagnostic tool for Tuberculosis diagnosis among HIV infected children is limited, calling for further validation. HIV infected children with lymphadenopathy, failure to thrive and difficulty in breathing are at high risk of Tuberculosis.

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