Adherence and Pharmaco-Care Interventions Amidst Hiv Patients on Combined Antiretroviral Therapy in Nigeria

Abstract

Present study examines the level of adherence and pharmaceutical care interventions among HIV patients on combined antiretroviral therapy in Nigeria. Adherence to cART among 297 patients was determined using pill counting method. The levels of patient adherence were evaluated at baseline and then re-evaluated at three, six, and nine months. The subjects were also followed up with drug counseling at 3 months interval of the hospital visit for prescription refills. More than one-half of them were on cART between 2 and 3 years. At baseline, the adherence level obtained from pill counting was 85.9%. Following the patient-focused interventions, the adherence level steadily increased to 97%. Before the intervention, patients most adhered to Tenofovir + Emtricitabine + Efavirenz followed by Zidovudine + Lamivudine + Efavirenz. After the intervention, there was an improvement in adherence level to all the regimens of drugs used for the patients. In treating HIVinfected subjects on combined antiretroviral therapy, application of pharmaceutical interventions and continual monitoring are essential to heighten adherence and promote survival.