Adherence to antiretroviral therapy and associated factors among Human immunodeficiency virus positive patients accessing treatment at Nekemte referral hospital, west Ethiopia, 2019

Abstract

Background Antiretroviral therapy has a remarkable clinical effect in reducing the progress of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. The clinical outcome of Anti-Retroviral therapy depends on strict adherence. Poor adherence reduces the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy and increases viral replication. With changes in service delivery over time and differences in socio-demographic status from region to region, it is essential to measure adherence. Therefore, this study aimed to assess adherence to antiretroviral therapy and its associated factors among HIV/AIDS patients accessing treatment at Nekemte referral hospital, West Ethiopia. Methods Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted on 311 HIV/AIDS patients from March 01 to March 30, 2019. The study participants were selected by a simple random sampling method and interviewed using structured questionnaires. Bivariable logistic regression was conducted to find an association between each independent variable and adherence to antiretroviral medication. Multivariable logistic regression was used to find the independent variables which best predict adherence. The statistical significance was measured using odds ratio at a 95% confidence interval with a p-value of less than 0.05. Results Out of a total of 311 patients sampled, 305 were participated in the study, making a response rate of 98.07%. From these 305 study participants,73.1% (95% CI = 68.2, 78.0) were adherent to their medication. Having knowledge about HIV and its treatment (

<p>Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence and Determinant Factors Among Adult People Infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Eastern Tigray General Hospitals, Northern Ethiopia, 2019</p>

“…7 The finding of this study showed that study respondents who disclosed their HIV serostatus to their families were adherent to their ART medication than who did not disclose their result. This is consistent with a study that was done in West Ethiopia, 7 Northwest Ethiopia, 15 Eastern Ethiopia, 18 Southern Ethiopia, 26 Western Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. 13 The reason behind may be due to, when there is no expose to their HIV status, the patients may distress to take their medications, and omission would occur.…”

“…Participants who had strong social support were found more adherent to their medication than those who have poor social support. This finding is similar to a study done in West Ethiopia, 7 Southwest Ethiopia, 6,14 Eastern Ethiopia, 18,27 Southern Ethiopia, 25 Southern-central Africa, 29 South Africa, 30 and Sub-Saharan Africa. 13 This may be due to any support from family members and friends who had direct and long-term positive influences on their ART adherence.…”

“…In this study, the magnitude of adherence to antiretroviral therapy was reported to be 74.63% (95% CI: 71.277.3%). This is in line with studies done in Western Ethiopia, 7 Southwest Ethiopia, 6,9 Southern Ethiopia, 10 Northeastern Ethiopia, 11 Western Africa, 12 and Sub-Saharan Africa, 13 which reported 73.1%, 75.7%, 73.6%, 77.1%, 71.8%, 73%, and 72.9% respectively.…”

“…Individuals who did not disclose their HIV serostatus to his/her family or friends may put more stress on themselves and might miss their treatment. 7 Patients who had free from depression were significantly related to adherence to ART medication. Similar results were reported in Southwest Ethiopia, 6 Eastern Ethiopia, 27 and Sub-Saharan Africa.…”

“…The magnitude and associated factors of adherence differ across geopolitical zones. 7 The assessment of ART adherence and determinant factors helps to identify major health problems related to ART adherence and for policymakers employed in the HIV/AIDS area for appropriate planning and implementation. Also, it is important to study adherence always because adherence changes from one period of time to another period and varies from geographical location to other geographical locations.…”