Factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral medication in Ilorin, Nigeria

Association Between Belief in Medicine and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Adults in Zaira, Kaduna State, Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Negative perceptions of antiretroviral treatment (ART)'s efficacy and consequences may operate as roadblocks to adherence. This research aimed to determine the association between belief in medicine and adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV adults on ART in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.

METHOD

Using a cross-sectional design, a systematic random sampling method was used to select respondents aged 18-64 years on antiretroviral therapy for at least six months at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, outpatients of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief Clinic. Socio-demographics, belief in medicine and adherence to ART were obtained using a self-administered questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, chi-square test, and multiple logistic regression were used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Among the 385 people who took part in the study, about 67.5% were females and 32.5% were males. About 54% of adults adhered to ART. More than half (55.8%) of the respondents had negative perceptions (beliefs) of personal need for ART medication and about 42.3% of the respondents had more concerns about the potential negative effects of the ART medication. Government employment (odds ratio (OR) = 2.842, p = <0.01), self-employment (OR = 2.6, p = <0.001), and being divorced or widowed (OR = 2.0, p = <0.01), negative perceptions (beliefs) of personal need for the ART medication (adjusted OR (AOR) = 1.525, p=<0.01) and more concerns about the potential negative effects of the ART medication (AOR= 1.362, p = <0.05) were all significantly associated with ART adherence.

CONCLUSION

Employment, marital status and belief in medicine were associated with adherence to ART. Therefore, during adherence counseling, healthcare personnel should address respondents' false views and fears regarding ART medication in order to strengthen proper information and the benefits of ART. This article was previously presented as a meeting poster at the 36th Scientific Conference of the Nutrition Society of Malaysia (7th and 8th September 2021).

Incidence and predictors of opportunistic infections in adolescents and adults after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy: A 10-year retrospective cohort study in Ethiopia

Background

Opportunistic infections (OIs) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (PLHIV). However, there are few robust recent data on the rates of OIs and the risk factors that contribute to their occurrence. Therefore, the current study sought to determine the incidence of OIs and identify predictors among adolescents and adults after the initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) at Wolaita Sodo University Comprehensive Specialized Hospital (WSUCSH), Southern Ethiopia.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study design was employed. The study population was adolescents and adults who initiated ART between 1 January 2012 and 31 December 2021. A simple random sampling technique was used to select 537 participants' records. We reviewed the medical records of the sampled individuals from 1 May 2022 to 15 June 2022. KoboCollect version 2021.2.4 and STATA version 14.0 software were used for data collection and analysis, respectively. We calculated the incidence rate per 100 person-years of observation (PYO) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the occurrence of any OIs. The Weibull regression model was fitted after the goodness-of-fit test for the Cox proportional hazard model was deemed inadequate. An adjusted hazard ratio (AHR) with 95% CI was used to identify a significant predictor of OIs. The statistical significance was made at a 5% significance level.

Results

A total of 515 participants contributed to 1,829 person-years of risk, of whom 164 (31.84%) exhibited at least one OI. The overall incidence rate of OIs was 8.97 cases (95% CI: 7.69, 10.44) per 100 PYO. The independent predictors of OIs were being female [AHR: 1.65 (95% CI (1.15, 2.36), P = 0.007)], individuals classified as World Health Organization (WHO) HIV clinical stage III [AHR: 1.98 (95% CI (1.12, 3.51), P = 0.019)], individuals who did not take cotrimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT) [AHR: 2.58 (95% CI (1.62, 4.11), P < 0.001)], mild malnutrition [AHR: 1.62 (95% CI (1.06, 2.54), P = 0.035)], and poor adherence to ART [AHR: 4.21 (95% CI (2.39, 7.44), P < 0.001)].

Conclusion

The rate of OIs after the initiation of ART was still high. Moreover, being female, not taking CPT, poor adherence to ART, mild malnutrition, and advanced HIV disease at presentation were found to increase the hazards of developing OIs.

Socio-demographic factors associated with medication adherence among People Living with HIV in the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

Background

Medication adherence is important to the survival of People Living with HIV (PLHIV) globally. Although, HIV viral load is reduced by antiretroviral therapy (ART), the number of people on ART continues to rise in Ghana. In the Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana, we looked at the socio-demographic factors associated with medication adherence among PLHIV.

Methods

A quantitative study involving 420 PLHIV who sought healthcare at the Kumasi South Regional Hospital was conducted utilizing a cross-sectional study design. We employed a structured questionnaire to collect data on medication adherence using the eight-item Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS) and socio-demographic factors that influence medication adherence. The data were analysed using Stata 14.2. Frequencies and percentages were used to present the descriptive data. The association between socio-demographic factors and medication adherence among PLHIV was investigated using both univariate and multivariate analyses.

Results

More than half (53.10%) of PLHIV adhered to ART. Place of residence was significantly established to be influencing medication adherence among PLHIV. PLHIV who were residing in urban centers (aOR = 3.61; CI = 2.24–5.82) were more likely to adhere to medication as compared to those who resided in rural areas.

Conclusion

Slightly more than half of PLHIV took their medicines as prescribed. Government and Policymakers such as the Ghana AIDS Commission, Ministry of Health, and Ghana Health Service should incorporate socio-demographic factors such as place of residence while creating and executing medication adherence initiatives to evaluate HIV management regimen for PLHIV.

Factors affecting adherence to anti-retroviral therapy among women attending HIV clinic of a tertiary health institution in SouthEastern, Nigeria

Background

Strictly adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is needed to achieve viral suppression. Studies have focused on HIV positive pregnant women's adherence. Factors affecting non-pregnant HIV positive women's adherence has been understudied in Enugu.

Objective

The study objective was to identify factors affecting adherence to ART among HIV positive women attending retroviral clinic of a tertiary hospital in Enugu.

Methods

Using a descriptive cross-sectional design, a pre-tested structured questionnaire was used for data collection among 286 HIV positive women aged 18 years and above. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics of proportions, percentages, and means. Responses with a mean score of ≥2.5 were taken as important factor affecting adherence.

Results

Overall adherence was 56.2%. Participants were considered adherent if they took ≥95% of their prescribed ART. Lack of transport fare (2.69 ±1.36), long-distance to clinic (2.82±1.26), health workers' poor attitude (2.74±1.28), and lack of partners' and parents' support (2.57±1.05) affected adherence negatively while ease in renewing prescription and minimal side effects of drugs enhanced adherence. Enfuvirtide (21.1%) and Lamivudine (17.4%) were drugs that were mostly skipped.

Conclusions

Adherence to ART was low among the women attending the HIV clinic in Enugu. Adherence counseling and education should be provided before ART initiation. Strategies to reduce stigma, increase family support, and improve healthcare providers' attitudes should be employed.

Proportion and Determinants of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV Positive People Registered Under ART Center in South India

Background:

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly delays the progression from HIV to AIDS. Adherence to ART is the second strongest predictor of progression to AIDS and death, after CD4 count. A very high level of adherence (≥95%) is required for ART to be effective on a long term and to prevent the emergence of resistant viral strains and prevent comorbidities.

Methods:

A case series study was undertaken at an ART center for a period of 6 months. Non-probability purposive sampling was adapted to select HIV-positive subjects aged >15 years on ART for more than 6 months. A predesigned semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain the data. Treatment compliance was assessed by self-reported 1-week recall method.

Results:

A total of 536 HIV-positive people were interviewed, among which 315 (58.8%) of them were males and 214 (39.9%) were females. Nearly two third of the participants (359, 67.0%) reported ≥95% adherence to treatment. Personal commitments (51, 28.8%) and working time inconvenience (42, 23.7%) were the common reasons for less adherence. On bivariate analysis, married people (OR: 1.586, CI: 1.097-2.292), participants residing in rural area (OR: 1.628, CI: 1.130-2.345), participants not having side effects of drugs (OR: 5.324, CI: 3.491-8.181), participants equipped with better knowledge about ART (OR: 2.019, CI: 1.377-2.961), and participants having support of friends and family members (OR: 1.612, CI: 1.019-2.540) showed a higher level of adherence to ART.

Conclusions:

Demographic factors such as marital status, residing in rural area, and other personal factors like having good knowledge about ART, without side effects to drugs, and having support of friends and family members were found to show a high level of adherence to ART.

Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy and Associated Factors among People Living with HIV/AIDS in Hara Town and Its Surroundings, North-Eastern Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study

BACKGROUND

Adherence is the most important factor in determining Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) treatment success and long-term viral suppression. Nonadherence to ART led to the human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) related morbidity and mortality. Moreover, it intensifies the risk of the emerging drug resistant HIV strains. This study aimed to assess the level of ART adherence and to identify its predictive associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Hara Town and its surroundings, North-Eastern Ethiopia.

METHODS

An institutional facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from April-May 2017. A total of 454 individuals were on ART follow-up in the selected ART-clinic, and only 418 patients were recruited. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were carried out to identify associated factors. Odds ratio and 95% Confidence Interval (CI) were calculated to determine the level of significance.

RESULTS

The level of ART adherence in the study setting was 300 (71.8%). Participants who had not disclosed their HIV status to their families were 88% less likely to adhere to their ART medication than those who had disclosed their HIV status ((Odds ratio (OR): 0.12, 95%CI:0.05-0.58; p<0.001). On the other hand, participants who had not encountered drug side effects were 2.69 times more likely to adhere to their ART medication than those who had ever encountered drug side effects (OR: 2.69, 95%CI:1.27-5.05; p<0.001).

CONCLUSION

A very low level of ART adherence was shown in the study population. It was below the recommended good adherence standard. Therefore, patients should get adequate and comprehensive ART adherence counselling before initiation ART treatment and during the follow-up time.

Individual factors associated with time to non-adherence to ART pick-up within HIV care and treatment services in three health facilities of Zambézia Province, Mozambique

Introduction

Mozambique has made significant gains in addressing its HIV epidemic, yet adherence to visit schedules remains a challenge. HIV programmatic gains to date could be impaired if adherence and retention to ART remains low. We investigate individual factors associated with non-adherence to ART pick-up in Mozambique.

Methods

This was a retrospective cohort of patients initiating ART between January 2013 and June 2014. Non-adherence to ART pick-up was defined as a delay in pick-up ≥ 15 days. Descriptive statistics were used to calculate socio-demographic and clinical characteristics. Adherence to ART pick-up was assessed using Kaplan Meier estimates. Cox proportional hazards model was used to determine factors associated with non-adherence.

Results

1,413 participants were included (77% female). Median age was 30.4 years. 19% of patients remained adherent to ART pick-up during the evaluation period, while 81% of patients were non-adherent to ART pick-up. Probability of being non-adherent to ART pick-up by 166 days following initiation was 50%. In univariate analysis, being widowed was associated with higher adherence to ART pick-up than other marital status groups (p = 0.01). After adjusting, being ≥35 years (aHR: 0.843, 95% CI: 0.738–0.964, p = 0.012); receiving efavirenz (aHR: 0.932, 95% CI: 0.875–0.992, p = 0.026); and being urban (aHR: 0.754, 95% CI: 0.661–0.861, p<0.0001) were associated with improved adherence. Non-participation in a Community ART Support Group (CASG) was associated with a 43% increased hazard of non-adherence to ART pick-up (aHR 1.431, 1.192–1.717, p<0.0001)

Conclusions

Interventions should focus on the first 6 months following ARV initiation for improvements. Younger persons and widows are two target groups for better understanding facilitators and barriers to visit schedule adherence. Future strategies should explore the benefits of joining CASGs earlier in one´s treatment course. Finally, greater efforts should be made to accelerate the scale-up of viral load capacity and HIV resistance monitoring.

Adherence to combined Antiretroviral therapy (cART) among people living with HIV/AIDS in a Tertiary Hospital in Ilorin, Nigeria

Introduction

This study aims to assess the treatment adherence rate among People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) receiving treatment in a Nigerian tertiary Hospital.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study that assessed self-reported treatment adherence among adults aged 18 years and above who were accessing drugs for the treatment of HIV. Systematic random sampling method was used to select 550 participants and data were collected by structured interviewer administered questionnaire.

Results

The mean age of respondents was 39.9±10 years. Adherence rate for HIV patients was 92.6%. Factors affecting adherence include lack of money for transportation to the hospital (75%), traveling (68.8%), forgetting (66.7%), avoiding side effects (66.7%), and avoiding being seen (63.6%).

Conclusion

The adherence rate was less than optimal despite advancements in treatment programmes. Adherence monitoring plans such as home visit and care should be sustained.

Medication adherence to antiretroviral therapy among newly treated people living with HIV

BACKGROUND

Free antiretroviral therapy has been implemented in China since 2004, but adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV is suboptimal. The effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy is subject to medication adherence, which decreases with prolonged treatment times. The aim of this study was to investigate medication adherence and related factors among people living with HIV with newly initiated antiretroviral therapy.

METHODS

This observational study was conducted in consecutive samples of people living with HIV who had newly initiated antiretroviral therapy. Participants were recruited between March 1, 2013, and August 31, 2014, from the local Center for Disease Control and Prevention and Infectious Disease hospital in a capital city in central China. A standard set of questionnaires was adopted, including the Community Programs for Clinical Research on AIDS Antiretroviral Medications and Self-Report Questionnaire (CPCRA), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale (GAD-7). T-test, Chi square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis with backward stepwise were performed to explore factors that might influence medication adherence.

RESULTS

Of the 207 participants, 85.5% of the participants (177/207) were categorized with good adherence, and 14.5% (30/207) with poor adherence. The multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that participants with positive depression (OR = 5.95, 95% CI: 2.34-15.11) and without disclosure of their HIV status to others (OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.06-6.50) were more susceptible to poor adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

One-sixth of the participants reported suboptimal medication adherence within the first 6 months. Factors associated with poor adherence included non-disclosure of their HIV status, had positive depression. Tailored interventions, such as effective psychological coping strategies, should be implemented for people living with HIV with newly initiated antiretroviral therapy to improve their medication adherence.

The relationship between patient-related factors and medication adherence among Nigerian patients taking highly active anti-retroviral therapy

BACKGROUND

Through several initiatives, there are increasingly more people who have access to anti-retroviral therapy. Adherence to therapy is, however, necessary for successful management of disease.

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this study were to describe adherence rates and determine what patient-related factors are related to adherence to anti-retroviral therapy among adult patients in an HIV clinic located in Lagos, Nigeria.

METHODS

Adherence was measured using the two-week self-recall method. Barriers, satisfaction with therapy, and socio-demographic and clinical variables served as independent variables. Data were collected via self-administered surveys.

RESULTS

Most of the patients (79.5%) reported 100% adherence. The significant (p<0.05) barriers to adherence were forgetfulness, running out of medication, alcohol use, and medication side effects. For every unit increase in the number of barriers, patients were 60.8% less likely to be 100% adherent (p <0.05, odds ratio, OR = 0.392, 95% CI = 0.295-0.523).

CONCLUSION

Interventions should target helping patients cope with forgetfulness, specifically employing strategies to overcome busyness in schedules, being away from home, and tiredness.

Patient-reported barriers and facilitators to antiretroviral adherence in sub-Saharan Africa

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to identify the range and frequency of patient-reported barriers and facilitators to antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).

DESIGN

Studies from 2005 to 2016 were identified by searching 10 electronic databases and through additional hand and web-searching.

METHODS

Inclusion criteria were HIV-positive adults taking ART based in any SSA country, qualitative study or quantitative survey and included at least one patient-reported barrier or facilitator to ART adherence. Exclusion criteria were only including data from treatment-naive patients initiating ART, only single-dose treatment, participants residing outside of SSA and reviews.

RESULTS

After screening 11 283 records, 154 studies (161 papers) were included in this review. Forty-three barriers and 30 facilitators were reported across 24 SSA countries. The most frequently identified barriers across studies were forgetting (n = 76), lack of access to adequate food (n = 72), stigma and discrimination (n = 68), side effects (n = 67) and being outside the house or travelling (n = 60). The most frequently identified facilitators across studies were social support (n = 60), reminders (n = 55), feeling better or healthier after taking ART (n = 35), disclosing their HIV status (n = 26) and having a good relationship with a health provider (n = 22).

CONCLUSION

This review addresses the gap in knowledge by collating all the patient-reported barriers and facilitators to ART adherence in SSA. Current barriers measures need to be adapted or new tools developed to include the wide variety of factors identified. The factors that have the greatest impact need to be isolated so interventions are developed that reduce the barriers and enhance the facilitators.

Determinants of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive adults in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review

OBJECTIVE

The rapid scale up of antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) has resulted in an increased focus on patient adherence. Non-adherence can lead to drug-resistant HIV caused by failure to achieve maximal viral suppression. Optimal treatment requires the identification of patients at high risk of suboptimal adherence and targeted interventions. The aim of this review was to identify and summarise determinants of adherence to ART among HIV-positive adults.

DESIGN

Systematic review of adherence to ART in SSA from January 2002 to October 2014.

METHODS

A systematic search was performed in 6 databases (PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, Web of Science, Popline, Global Health Library) for qualitative and quantitative articles. Risk of bias was assessed. A meta-analysis was conducted for pooled estimates of effect size on adherence determinants.

RESULTS

Of the 4052 articles screened, 146 were included for final analysis, reporting on determinants of 161 922 HIV patients with an average adherence score of 72.9%. Main determinants of non-adherence were use of alcohol, male gender, use of traditional/herbal medicine, dissatisfaction with healthcare facility and healthcare workers, depression, discrimination and stigmatisation, and poor social support. Promoters of adherence included counselling and education interventions, memory aids, and active disclosure among people living with HIV. Determinants of health status had conflicting influence on adherence.

CONCLUSIONS

The sociodemographic, psychosocial, health status, treatment-related and intervention-related determinants are interlinked and contribute to optimal adherence. Clinics providing ART in SSA should therefore design targeted interventions addressing these determinants to optimise health outcomes.

Older people living with HIV in Uganda: understanding their experience and needs

Older adults ageing with HIV in Africa have been largely neglected, despite the distinctive healthcare needs of this population. This article examines the medical care experiences of older Ugandans living with HIV. Data were collected from 40 HIV-positive adults, aged 50 years or older, attending two clinics in Uganda. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted with 16 adults and four focus groups were conducted with a total of 24 adults. Observations of clinic interactions were also recorded. Mean age of the participants was 65 years (range 50 to 80 years), and 50% were females. Interview transcripts were analysed using thematic content analysis. Although most issues raised were not qualitatively different for older individuals versus younger ones, from the analysis, nine major themes emerged, revealing healthcare needs distinctive to older people living with HIV: 1) stigma (43%); 2) difficulty disclosing (8%); 3) delayed diagnosis and care-seeking (55%); 4) access to care (80%); 5) quality of patient-provider relationship (75%); 6) adherence support (25%); 7) serodiscordance (20%); 8) continuity of care (14%); and, 9) end-of-life issues (13%) and other issues (20%). Most participants attributed a double burden of stigma - from HIV and old age - as a major factor affecting access to healthcare for HIV. Most of the participants expressed anxiety about securing healthcare in the future and concern about the lack of social services. Many participants had problems with transportation and food that compromised their adherence to antiretroviral therapy. HIV-prevention, treatment and care programmes should seek to meet the special needs of older people through focused and innovative approaches. Further research with larger samples is needed to explore the impact of these healthcare needs on the quality of life of older people living with HIV.

Predictors and correlates of adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) for chronic HIV infection: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a key predictor of the success of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, and is potentially amenable to intervention. Insight into predictors or correlates of non-adherence to ART may help guide targets for the development of adherence-enhancing interventions. Our objective was to review evidence on predictors/correlates of adherence to ART, and to aggregate findings into quantitative estimates of their impact on adherence.

METHODS

We searched PubMed for original English-language papers, published between 1996 and June 2014, and the reference lists of all relevant articles found. Studies reporting on predictors/correlates of adherence of adults prescribed ART for chronic HIV infection were included without restriction to adherence assessment method, study design or geographical location. Two researchers independently extracted the data from the same papers. Random effects models with inverse variance weights were used to aggregate findings into pooled effects estimates with 95% confidence intervals. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used as the common effect size. The impact of study design features (adherence assessment method, study design, and the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) of the country in which the study was set) was investigated using categorical mixed effects meta-regression.

RESULTS

In total, 207 studies were included. The following predictors/correlates were most strongly associated with adherence: adherence self-efficacy (SMD = 0.603, P = 0.001), current substance use (SMD = -0.395, P = 0.001), concerns about ART (SMD = -0.388, P = 0.001), beliefs about the necessity/utility of ART (SMD = 0.357, P = 0.001), trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider (SMD = 0.377, P = 0.001), depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.305, P = 0.001), stigma about HIV (SMD = -0.282, P = 0.001), and social support (SMD = 0.237, P = 0.001). Smaller but significant associations were observed for the following being prescribed a protease inhibitor-containing regimen (SMD = -0.196, P = 0.001), daily dosing frequency (SMD = -0.193, P = 0.001), financial constraints (SMD -0.187, P = 0.001) and pill burden (SMD = -0.124, P = 0.001). Higher trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider, a lower daily dosing frequency, and fewer depressive symptoms were more strongly related with higher adherence in low and medium HDI countries than in high HDI countries.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that adherence-enhancing interventions should particularly target psychological factors such as self-efficacy and concerns/beliefs about the efficacy and safety of ART. Moreover, these findings suggest that simplification of regimens might have smaller but significant effects.

Predictors and correlates of adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) for chronic HIV infection: a meta-analysis

Background

Adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a key predictor of the success of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment, and is potentially amenable to intervention. Insight into predictors or correlates of non-adherence to ART may help guide targets for the development of adherence-enhancing interventions. Our objective was to review evidence on predictors/correlates of adherence to ART, and to aggregate findings into quantitative estimates of their impact on adherence.

Methods

We searched PubMed for original English-language papers, published between 1996 and June 2014, and the reference lists of all relevant articles found. Studies reporting on predictors/correlates of adherence of adults prescribed ART for chronic HIV infection were included without restriction to adherence assessment method, study design or geographical location. Two researchers independently extracted the data from the same papers. Random effects models with inverse variance weights were used to aggregate findings into pooled effects estimates with 95% confidence intervals. The standardized mean difference (SMD) was used as the common effect size. The impact of study design features (adherence assessment method, study design, and the United Nations Human Development Index (HDI) of the country in which the study was set) was investigated using categorical mixed effects meta-regression.

Results

In total, 207 studies were included. The following predictors/correlates were most strongly associated with adherence: adherence self-efficacy (SMD = 0.603, P = 0.001), current substance use (SMD = -0.395, P = 0.001), concerns about ART (SMD = -0.388, P = 0.001), beliefs about the necessity/utility of ART (SMD = 0.357, P = 0.001), trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider (SMD = 0.377, P = 0.001), depressive symptoms (SMD = -0.305, P = 0.001), stigma about HIV (SMD = -0.282, P = 0.001), and social support (SMD = 0.237, P = 0.001). Smaller but significant associations were observed for the following being prescribed a protease inhibitor-containing regimen (SMD = -0.196, P = 0.001), daily dosing frequency (SMD = -0.193, P = 0.001), financial constraints (SMD -0.187, P = 0.001) and pill burden (SMD = -0.124, P = 0.001). Higher trust/satisfaction with the HIV care provider, a lower daily dosing frequency, and fewer depressive symptoms were more strongly related with higher adherence in low and medium HDI countries than in high HDI countries.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that adherence-enhancing interventions should particularly target psychological factors such as self-efficacy and concerns/beliefs about the efficacy and safety of ART. Moreover, these findings suggest that simplification of regimens might have smaller but significant effects.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12916-014-0142-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Mediators of antiretroviral adherence: a multisite international study

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of stressful life events (SLE) on medication adherence (3 days, 30 days) as mediated by sense of coherence (SOC), self-compassion (SCS), and engagement with the healthcare provider (eHCP) and whether this differed by international site. Data were obtained from a cross-sectional sample of 2082 HIV positive adults between September 2009 and January 2011 from sites in Canada, China, Namibia, Puerto Rico, Thailand, and US. Statistical tests to explore the effects of stressful life events on antiretroviral medication adherence included descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis of variance, analysis of variance with Bonferroni post-hoc analysis, and path analysis. An examination by international site of the relationships between SLE, SCS, SOC, and eHCP with adherence (3 days and 30 days) indicated these combined variables were related to adherence whether 3 days or 30 days to different degrees at the various sites. SLE, SCS, SOC, and eHCP were significant predictors of adherence past 3 days for the United States (p = < 0.001), Canada (p = 0.006), and Namibia (p = 0.019). The combined independent variables were significant predictors of adherence past 30 days only in the United States and Canada. Engagement with the provider was a significant correlate for antiretroviral adherence in most, but not all, of these countries. Thus, the importance of eHCP cannot be overstated. Nonetheless, our findings need to be accompanied by the caveat that research on variables of interest, while enriched by a sample obtained from international sites, may not have the same relationships in each country.

Factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral treatment in Nepal: a mixed-methods study

Background

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a lifesaver for individual patients treated for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Maintaining optimal adherence to antiretroviral drugs is essential for HIV infection management. This study aimed to understand the factors influencing adherence amongst ART-prescribed patients and care providers in Nepal.

Methods

A cross-sectional mixed-methods study surveying 330 ART-prescribed patients and 34 in-depth interviews with three different types of stakeholders: patients, care providers, and key people at policy level. Adherence was assessed through survey self-reporting and during the interviews. A multivariate logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with adherence, supplemented with a thematic analysis of the interview transcripts.

Results

A total of 282 (85.5%) respondents reported complete adherence, i.e. no missed doses in the four-weeks prior to interview. Major factors influencing adherence were: non-disclosure of HIV status (OR = 17.99, p =  0.014); alcohol use (OR = 12.89, p = <0.001), being female (OR = 6.91, p = 0.001), being illiterate (OR = 4.58, p = 0.015), side-effects (OR = 6.04, p = 0.025), ART started ≤24 months (OR = 3.18, p = 0.009), travel time to hospital >1 hour (OR = 2.84, p = 0.035). Similarly, lack of knowledge and negative perception towards ART medications also significantly affected non-adherence. Transport costs (for repeat prescription), followed by pills running out, not wanting others to notice, side-effects, and being busy were the most common reasons for non-adherence. The interviews also revealed religious or ritual obstacles, stigma and discrimination, ART-associated costs, transport problems, lack of support, and side-effects as contributing to non-adherence.

Conclusion

Improving adherence requires a supportive environment; accessible treatment; clear instructions about regimens; and regimens tailored to individual patients’ lifestyles. Healthcare workers should address some of the practical and cultural issues around ART medicine whilst policy-makers should develop appropriate social policy to promote adherence among ART-prescribed patients.