Determinants of Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment among HIV Patients in Ethiopia

Abstract

This study investigated factors of adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment (ART), factors or variables that can discriminate between adherent and non-adherent patients on ART were selected. Simple structured questionnaire was employed. The study sample consisted of 145 HIV patients who received ART in the Shashemene General
Hospital (SGH). Using self report measure of adherence in the two weeks of study period, 81% of the patients on ART were adherent whereas 19% of the patients were non adherent. The major reasons of non-adherence were: forget to take (28.6%), confused on how and when to take (17.9%) and feel depressed (14.2%). Using discriminant analysis, depression, poor NGO support and HIV serostatus disclosure were identified as barriers of adherence while transportation problem, strong NGO support, good reception in the
service area and high CD4 count were identified as facilitators of adherence. To improve adherence of patients on ART, it was recommend that the current ART program should strive to manage depression before and after the initiation of ART and also strong
linkage between NGOs which are working in care and support program must be established.

Keywords: Antiretroviral, Adherence, Non Adherence, Discriminant Analysis

African Research Review Vol. 2 (2) 2008 pp. 1-12