Factors Influencing Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among HIVpositive Youth Patients Attending ART Clinic in Kiryandongo General Hospital Kiryandongo District

Abstract

This research aimed to assess the factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV-positive youth patients attending the ART Clinic in Kiryandongo General Hospital, Kiryandongo District. The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional research design, with a sample of 355 respondents between the ages of 10 and 25 who were receiving antiretroviral treatment. The study found a low level of adherence to antiretroviral treatment (33%), significantly lower than the national target of 90%. Adherence was influenced by various individual, drug-related, and healthcare factors. Individual factors included gender, age, marital status, education, place of residence, family size, and religion. Drug-related factors included having all the required drugs, challenges with the drugs, the frequency of taking ARV pills, challenges during medication intake, and accessibility to ARV drugs. Health-related factors encompassed routine education and counseling, sources of information, proximity to healthcare facilities, distance from home to the facility, availability of ARVs on appointment days, availability of healthcare workers, frequency of ARV refill visits, and waiting time during appointments. The low adherence was attributed to missing doses due to stigma, forgetfulness, drug stockouts, lack of routine education about ART, long distances to healthcare facilities, inadequate information, and extended waiting times. Keywords: HIV, Antiretroviral therapy, Adherence, Youths, Stigma