Eboyu, Thomas2026-04-142026-04-142025-10Eboyu, T. (2025). Determinants of antiretroviral therapy uptake by people living with hiv/aids during covid-19 lockdown at Soroti regional referral hospital. Kyambogo University (Unpublished work)https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12504/2848Xiv, 101 P. :Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is still one of the diseases that has a severe impact on public health and economic development worldwide. The outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic in 2019 disrupted several services including health sector among others. Any interruption in the fight against HIV and AIDS leads to detrimental effects such as lowering the CD4 count level that may subsequently lead to an increase in new infections and death of patients, thereby hindering the achievement of the UNAID’s target of 95% of infected persons knowing their status, 95% acquiring treatment and 95% of patients being suppressed of the virus by 2030 in Uganda.. This study examined the factors that influenced uptake of Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) during the first Covid-19 lockdown in Soroti referral hospital catchment area in Eastern Uganda. Open ended questionnaires were used in a cross-sectional study to investigate the factors that influenced the uptake of ART. Patients’ records at the ART clinic were reviewed to obtain information on their ages and the number of ARV refills. Descriptive, bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to identify factors that influenced uptake of ART services. A total of 179 (91.3%) participants aged 18 years and above who visited the ART clinic three month before and three months during the first total lockdown participated in the survey. Of the 179 participants, 92(51.4%) were males while 87(48.6%) were females. Participants who mentioned services were available were more likely to take up the ART services than those who said services were not available (AOR = 2.039; 95%CI = 0.850 - 4.886). The study showed that females had the highest number of tests than males. Despite females, testing more than males it was found out that females (62.4%) missed more appointments than males (37.6%) during first total lockdown. The study found out that the access and availability of the HIV/AIDS services were reduced during the first total lockdown of COVID-19 period than before the COVID 19 period. There was reduced acquisition of treatment from 86.35% before the COVID 19 pandemic to 72.02% during the COVID-19 pandemic. Implementation of decentralized ART distribution mechanisms, such as community-based ART groups and home deliveries, to ensure uninterrupted access to medication during emergencies should be put in place.enHIV infectionsAntiretroviral therapyHIV-positive personsMedical careDrug utilizationThesis