Anti-retroviral therapy adherence and its determinants among adult patients living with HIV/AIDS in South West Ethiopia: a facility-based cross sectional study

Abstract

Adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) regimen is essential for successful treatment and sustained viral control. Optimal adherence is the compliance to ART that achieves a sustained plasma drug concentration that suppresses viral replication. The objective of this study is to assess ART adherence and its determinants at Agaro Health Center ART Clinic, South Western Ethiopia. Facility-based cross sectional study was conducted from June 9-29, 2011. Patients were interviewed to collect adherence related information by using pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Subsequent charts of prescribed medications were reviewed using a pretested data collection format. A total of 209 respondents were included in the study, of which 127 (60.8%) were females and 82 (39.2%) were males. The average adherence rate was 98.1% among males and 99.5% among females. The overall average adherence rate among the respondents was 98.8%. One hundred sixty one (77.0%) respondents had a 100% adherence rate, 15 (7.2%) patients had a 93.3% adherence rate and the remaining 33 (15.8%) patients had adherence rate between 95 and 98% on average. The common reasons for missing of the prescribed doses were forgetting 27 (39.7%), being too busy 20 (29.4%), away from home 17 (25.0%) and being extremely ill 4 (5.9%). Of all the variables, sex, living alone, monthly income, use of stimulants and medications in addition to ART were significantly associated with non-adherence. The adherence rate among the study participants was found to be optimal, and near perfect adherence need to be maintained to obtain the optimum therapeutic outcome.

Assessment of Level of Adherence to Anti Retroviral Therapy among Adult HIV Infected Patients in Mekelle Hospital, Northern Ethiopia

“…This was much lower than our result con-firming that patients in developing countries can achieve good adherence despite limited resources. Study conducted in South West Ethiopia indicated that level of adherence was 98.8%, which is higher than that we found [17].…”

“…In our study, we found that females were more adhered than males. Study done in South Western Ethiopia also indicated that females were more adhered than males [17]. The resulting higher rate of increase in the medication adherence for females than males might be attributed to females believes in self efficacy in whatever they do in order to succeed.…”

“…The resulting higher rate of increase in the medication adherence for females than males might be attributed to females believes in self efficacy in whatever they do in order to succeed. This may also be due to the fact that males used stimulants and other social drugs which will affect adherence negatively than females [17]. But study conducted in South and Central Ethiopia and Togo indicated that males were more adhered than females [18,19].…”

Treatment adherence of antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV/AIDS

“…6 Out of literate respondents majority 28 (35.9%) were primary level similar to study done at West Ethoipia by Ejigu. 8 Majority of respondents 155 (98.9%) were employed and similar finding is present in India. [7] Out of employed respondents majority 71 (45.8%) were housewife, similar to the study done at West Ethiopia by Ejigu.…”

“…[7] Out of employed respondents majority 71 (45.8%) were housewife, similar to the study done at West Ethiopia by Ejigu. 8 Majority of the respondents 125 (78.1%) have family history of HIV and have family history of ART 98 (78.4%), as contradictory findings are reported in West Bengal, India. 7 Majority of the respondents 53 (33.1%) were diagnosed HIV for more than 6 years back followed by 44 (27.5%) before 4-6 years, 38 (23.8%) before 2-4 years and 25 (15.6%) before 2 years whereas findings are in contrast as reported by Bam. 5 Majority of the respondents 71 (44.1%) receive combined ART regimen of Zidovudine, Lamivudine and Nevirapine (AZT/3TC/NVP) similar to the study reported by Saha.…”