OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between utilization of the HIV transition clinic utilization at the Infectious Diseases Institute(HTC-IDI) and general wellbeing of young adults living with HIV/AIDS (YALHA) . METHODS: This cross sectional study was conducted between March and May 2012 at the HTC-IDI in Kampala, Uganda. The study recruited 379 YALHA who were between the ages of 15-24 years. HTC-IDI utilization was categorized into two levels; regular (kept all the appointments visits) and irregular (missed one or more appointments visits) utilization. The general well-being of YALHA was measured using the 18-item general wellbeing schedule (GWS-18). The responses to each item of the GWS-18 were aggregated and the scores were converted to a 0-100 point scale (100= Highest general wellbeing status). Factor analysis was used to systematically group the GWS-18 questionnaire. Unpaired t-test, and  multivariable logistic regression were used to determine the association between utilization and general wellbeing. RESULTS: The mean (SD) age was 22.5±2.0 years with an age range of 15 to 24 years and the mean (SD) CD4 cell count was 402.3±293.3 with a range of 1-2603/µl, 231(60.9%) were currently on ART. Of the 379 YALHA, only 32.4% regularly utilized the HTC. The GWS-18 tool was highly acceptable, easily administered and was systematically grouped into two factors (anxiety and self-control). The overall scale demonstrated good internal consistency with Cronbach’s alpha of 0.82. There was no statistically significant association between general wellbeing and utilization of the HIV transition clinic.

CONCLUSIONS: The current study found no significant relationship between HTC-IDI utilization and the general well being of YALHA. Future studies should use longitudinal designs to ensure long-term follow up of the YALHA using disease specific generic tools since well-being has a tendency of fluctuating depending on emotional and physical feelings, which may not be captured in a cross sectional study.