Patient Factors Influencing Adherence to ART Treatment among HIV/AIDS Patients in Embu Teaching and Referral Hospital Comprehensive Care Clinic

Abstract

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is a major predictor of the survival of individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Appropriate use of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) has improved the health of many HIV positive individuals. The effectiveness of HIV treatment depends on sustenance of high levels of adherence to ARVs, however, ARV regimens are often complicated and can be affected by varying dosing schedules, failing to have proper dietary requirements and patients developing adverse effects. The main objective of this study was to determine patient's demographic, social and economic factors influencing adherence to Anti-retroviral drugs among HIV/AIDS adult patients. A cross sectional study was carried out at Embu County Teaching and Referral Hospital in Kenya. Stratified random sampling was used to obtain relative proportion of male and female respondents. 332 HIV positive patients were chosen from a total of 1694 patients who were active in ART for more than one year. A semi-structured interview schedules was used to obtain information. The study revealed that almost half (48.2%) of the respondents had optimal adherence to ART treatment. 34.9% cited traveling as an hindrance to optimal adherence to treatment. Adherence to ART treatment was significantly associated with age of the respondents, marital status, main occupation and average monthly income of the respondents. The study recommends that HIV patients should be given more information on the importance of consistency and nearly perfect adherence to ART. The patients should be enlightened on the importance of carrying their ARV drugs even when going for short travels.