Self-reported adherence to treatment: A study of socioeconomic factors and psychiatric morbidity among male and female patients with HIV infection in Sokoto, Nigeria

Abstract

Objective: Adherence to treatment is important and relevant in HIV  treatment. Previous studies in sub Sahara Africa and south western Nigeria reported that psychiatric morbidity influence treatment adherence.
The present study was to examine treatment adherence among the male and the female patients with HIV infection and the effect of socioeconomic factors and psychiatric morbidity on treatment adherence .

Methods: A total of 159 patients which comprised of 48 male and 111  female who were eligible for this cross sectional prospective study were  included having given their consent to participate. Questionnaire relating to socioeconomic factors and treatment adherence were administered. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed using HADS. Data was analyzed with SPSS for windows version 16.0.

Results: Treatment adherence was poor in 5.3% of the patients. The male patients had slightly better adherence than the female patients. Factors associated with poor treatment adherence include poor clinic attendance, presence of anxiety symptoms in males and poor education attainment in females.

Conclusion: Treatment adherence is related to socioeconomic factors and psychiatric morbidity. Treatment protocol in which mental health and  detailed socioeconomic circumstance of patient is an integral part should be encouraged.

Keywords: Adherence, HIV, infection, Patient, Treatment