Background: The health benefits of antiretroviral treatment greatly depend on the extent to which people living with HIV/ AIDS adhere to the prescribed daily dosing regimens. Peer support groups are expected to have a high impact on adherence to medication among people living with HIV/AIDS. Objectives: This study was designed to determine factors affecting adherence to medication among people living with HIV/ AIDS in peer support and non-support groups attending antiretroviral clinics in Enugu State, Nigeria. Method: This was a cross-sectional, comparative study using qualitative and quantitative instruments among 840 people living with HIV/AIDS attending antiretroviral clinics in Enugu, Nigeria. Quantitative data was analysed using IBM SPSS version 22. A Chi-square test of statistical significance, a student t-test and multivariate analysis using binary logistic regression were used in the analysis. Manual content analysis was done for the qualitative data. Results: The mean age of respondents was comparable in both study groups: support group 38.5±9.6; and non-support group 38.5±10.1. A significantly higher proportion of respondents in the support group (91.9%) achieved good adherence compared with those in the non-support group (87.1%). A good medication adherence self-rating was a predictor of adherence in both study groups: support group (AOR 5.8, 95% CI: 2.7-12.2, p=<0.001) and non-support group (AOR 0.2, 95% CI: 0.1-0.4, p=<0.001). Conclusion: The peer-based intervention is a viable and effective tool for maintaining optimal adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS in resource-limited settings; hence, research should concentrate on interventions that do not focus on individuals alone, but rather on those that strengthen the capacity of groups to collectively participate in HIV programmes.

BackgroundDoctors and laboratory scientists are at risk of infection from blood borne pathogens during routine clinical duties. After over 20 years of standard precautions, health care workers knowledge and compliance is not adequate.AimThis study is aimed at comparing adherence and knowledge of standard precautions (SP) among Medical Laboratory Scientists (MLSs) and doctors.MethodsIt was a cross sectional study done at University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, ItukuOzalla. A semi structured pre-tested questionnaire was the study instrument.ResultsGeneral knowledge of SP was high,76.2% in doctors and 67.6% in MLSs although there were differences between the two groups on the knowledge of components of SP. Safe injection practices, use of personal protective equipment as well as safe handling of contaminated equipment or surfaces was higher amongst doctors. Even though more than half of respondents in both groups, 53.1 % among doctors and 58.1% among MLSs had received training on standard precautions, this did not reflect in the practice. MLS reported more use of personal protective equipment such as gloves and coveralls (100% in MLS and 35% of doctors), P<0.001. Recapping of syringes was higher amongst doctors (63.6%) than MLS (55.1%).The doctors practiced better hand hygiene than MLS (P<0.001). Constraints that affected SP included non-availability of PPEs and emergency situations for both groups.ConclusionSP knowledge and practice are still low, and as such, there is a need to train doctors and MLS on the components of SP. Policies on SP need to be enforced and facilities for practice regularly supplied.

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