Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy and Associated Factors Among Children Living With HIV in East Wallaga Zone Public Health Institutions, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in children is influenced by multiple factors that can be linked to carer and children. The study aimed to assess the level of adherence to ART and its associated factors among children attending ART in East Wallaga zone public health institutions, Ethiopia. Methods: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among ART attending children in East Wallaga public health facilities. Pretested and structured questionnaires were used to collect data. To determine the level of significance, bivariate and multiple logistic regressions and 95% confidence intervals were performed. Results: One hundred eighty-five (78.1%) of the 237 study participants’ caregiver stated that their children had adhered to ART in the month preceding the interview. The male children, children from urban, disclosure the human immunodeficiency virus status to the children, proximity to health facilities, good relationship of caregivers with healthcare providers, and children on first-line regimens were strongly linked with ART adherence. Conclusion: The adherence rate obtained in this study was less than 95%, which is an optimal level of adherence recommended by the World Health Organization. Therefore, much work has to be done to optimize adherence to ART.