Experts raise concerns over side effects of HIV medication in women
Health experts are urging more research into the effects of HIV medication on women, citing concerns that some antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) cause more adverse side effects in women than in men.
One of the major concerns is weight gain. Studies indicate that women not only gain more weight than men when they start ARV treatment, but the fat distribution also differs, with more accumulation in the limbs and trunk. This has led to some women abandoning treatment due to body changes.
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Dr Loice Ombajo, the head of the Infectious Disease Unit at Kenyatta National Hospital, highlighted a case where a patient on ARVs since 2021 had gained 40kg by last year.
"She says, 'I can't find a dress that fits me.' That's the reality we have to face. We have to think of how do we transition women facing weight gain," she said during the African Workshop on Women & HIV in Nairobi.
The workshop aimed at improving the quality of life for women living with HIV and reducing transmissions. Ombajo noted that 76 per cent of all HIV-positive women globally live in sub-Saharan Africa, with Kenya having a significant share.
According to Kenya HIV Estimates 2023, approximately 890,747 of the 1.4 million Kenyans living with HIV are women.
"Current drug regimens are effective, but we need more data on side effects," Ombajo stated.
Prof Elizabeth Bukusi, a chief research officer at the Kenya Medical Research Institute, stressed the importance of finding ARVs with fewer side effects.
"No matter what you take, they always will have some side effects. The question is, can we find those that we can minimise to make it easier for people to take them?" she said.
She also pointed out the need to involve men in HIV treatment discussions.
"Men play an important role. They're partners in this because a woman who can't disclose her status to her husband will have difficulty in staying on treatment," she explained.
"Getting men to walk alongside them is crucial, as the empowerment of men will enable them to support women in managing their health," Bukusi added.
Currently, Kenya has about 1.378 million people living with HIV, with 97 per cent receiving treatment through 3,752 sites, according to the National Syndemic Diseases Control Council (NSDCC).
On December 1 last year, NSDCC CEO Ruth Laibon-Masha revealed that while Kenya's national HIV prevalence rate stands at 3.3 per cent, it surges to 18.7 per cent among people who inject drugs.
In 2023 alone, 20,478 Kenyans died from AIDS-related complications, including 2,607 children aged 0-14.
Despite these challenges, NSDCC maintains that Kenya is on track to meet the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets by 2025. The targets aim for 95 per cent of people living with HIV to know their status, 95 per cent of those diagnosed to be on treatment, and 95 per cent of those on treatment to achieve viral suppression.
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