Stock-out of antiretroviral drugs: a cross sectional study in selected health facilities in Federal Capital Territory, Nigeria

Background: Stock-out associated with antiretrovirals in treatment facilities is one of the factors that can impede the achievement of positive clinical outcome in the treatment of HIV/AIDS. This study aimed at exploring the factors necessitating stock-out of antiretroviral drugs and coping strategies used by hospitals in the Federal Capital Territory to prevent changes in treatment regimen. Methods: The study was a cross sectional study, data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire, as well as interview. Results: Findings indicates that majority of the patients registered in HIV/AIDS care centres visited were females as indicated by 62.1% of the sample. Up to 87.0%of the study participants had in one time or the other experienced stock-out in their facility. A quarter of the sample(25.0%) admitted changing of regimen during ART stock-out, a similar proportion (25.0%) had experienced stock-out in the last 6 months, 50.0% experienced stock – out in the last 3 months and up to 12.5% experienced stock-out in the last month. Findings further indicated that 12.5% have very slow response when stock-out is reported, more than a third of the study participants (37.5%) reported moderate stock-out and half of the participants (50.0%) reported very fast response. Stock-out was attributed to poor logistics and supply chain as well as change in regimen. One of the major coping strategies indicated by the respondents was shortening of refill period during stock-out. Conclusion: Antiretroviral stock-out was frequently experienced in secondary and primary healthcare facilities. This frequent stock out could be attributed to increasing patient population and poor documentation by the facilities.