Étude sur l'observance des traitements antirétroviraux au Centre hospitalier universitaire de Yaoundé (Cameroun)

Abstract

To build the knowledge base on anti-retroviral (ARV) treatment compliance in Africa, a study has been carried out at Yaounde University Hospital. It documented and studied the follow up of 231 patients under tri-therapy at the time of the study (December 2003). Respecting the strict time schedules is a crucial issue, especially for taking the morning and evening doses of medication. This is true for all patients, regardless of their social or economic status. The majority of the patients request more thorough information about their treatment. Some patients face economic problems which are more often related to the indirect costs rather than to the cost of treatment. Finally, the difficulty in confronting the treatment's side effects or the galenic nature of ARV treatment itself is noted. Nevertheless, it seems that the patients could better manage these issues and deal with the ensuing challenges if better communication with more complete information was provided to them at the beginning of their treatment, accompanied by written fact sheets specific to each type of treatment.