Medication adherence and associated factors among patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy in Nekemte Hospital, Ethiopia

Etiyopya’daki Nekemte Hastanesi’nde yüksek oranda aktif antiretroviral tedavi alan hastalardaki tedaviye uyum ve ilişkili faktörler

Abstract

Highly active antiretroviral therapy has reduced the number of deaths and increased survival time among HIV/AIDS patients. A major concern with scaling up of antiretroviral therapy in resource-limited settings is the emergence of drug resistant viral strains due to suboptimal adherence and the transmission of these resistant viral strains in the population. The objective of this study was to assess medication adherence and its determinants among HIV/AIDS patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy in Nekemte hospital, Western Ethiopia. A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted among HIV/AIDS patients on highly active antiretroviral therapy. Data was collected by using exit interview and also CD4 count, ARV regimen medication, WHO clinical stage, Existing opportunistic infection, length of treatment with ARV was obtained from the patient follow up record. Data was analyzed using SPSS 16.0. Patients’ informed consent was obtained before data collection. Majority of the patients 211 (77.9%) had adherence rate of greater than or equal to ninety five (>95%) in the last one month period. About one third of the patients had missed one of the prescribed pills for HIV/AIDS in the last one month. The main reasons reported by the patients for missing the dose were side effects of the medication 32 (27.1%), forgetting 19 (16.1) and being busy 14 (11.9%) Educational status of the participants (P=0.02); concomitantly used medications (P=0.002); family and social support (P<0.001); belief in efficacy of HAART (P=0.026); following clinical appointment regularly (P=0.001); using reminding aid (P<0.001); having access to medical care regardless of place and time (P<0.001); improvement upon taking HAART (P<0.001); relationship with health professionals (P=0.007); history of substance use (P=0.009) and continuing to take the medication if the disease condition is worsened were associated with medication adherence rate of the patient which is explained by P<0.05. Majority of the study participants were adherent to their medication. According to the current study educational status of the participants; concomitantly used medication, family and social support, belief in efficacy of HAART, following clinical appointment regularly, using reminding aid, having access to medical care regardless of place and time, improvement upon taking HAART, relationship with health professionals, history of substance use and continuing to take the medication if the disease condition is worsened were associated with medication adherence of the patients which is explained by P<0.05.