Langat N Talam, Odero W, Gatongi P
School of Public Health and Community Development, Maseno University, P.O. Prisate Bag, Maseno, Kenya.
East Afr J Public Health. 2012 Sep;9(3):101-4.
To determine ARV drug adherence levels in children (aged 3 to 14 years) attending Kericho District Hospital (KDH), Kenya.
A cross-sectional design was used to collect data from a random sample of caregivers of 230 children on ARVs for a study period of six months (i.e. 1st August 2010 to 31st January 2011). The study population comprised HIV infected children on ARVs and their caregivers. The caregivers whose children met the selection criteria were selected. A structured pre-tested, interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to interview the caregivers of the HIV infected children who were selected from among those who took the children for treatment. The interview was continued on the consecutive caregivers until the sample of 230 children was attained. The key variables examined were; demographic information of caregivers and children and drug adherence levels. Measures of adherence included; drug/pill counting and estimate of volumes of syrup remaining from the last prescription, caregiver reports (on keeping clinic appointments and timing of taking ARVs by the child), and drug refill data (from pharmacy records). Data was analyzed using SPSS version 12.0.1 with statistical significance set at P < 0.05.
The adherence levels based on time of taking ARV drugs was 56.1%, keeping clinic appointments 45.7%, No ARVs returned (i.e. took all drugs assessed through pill counts) 27%, and pharmacy drug refill was 47.8%. The overall average adherence level was suboptimal at 44.2%. It was recommended that caregivers of the HIV infected children should be educated on importance of strict adherence to prescribed doses of ARVs to the children. Future research should explore using multiple measures of adherence and reasons for non-adherence among HIV infecting children.
The drug adherence level was sub-optimal.
确定肯尼亚克里乔区医院（KDH）3至14岁儿童的抗逆转录病毒药物依从性水平。
采用横断面设计，从230名接受抗逆转录病毒药物治疗的儿童的随机样本护理人员中收集数据，研究期为六个月（即2010年8月1日至2011年1月31日）。研究人群包括接受抗逆转录病毒药物治疗的艾滋病毒感染儿童及其护理人员。选择其子女符合入选标准的护理人员。使用经过预测试的结构化访谈问卷，对从带孩子接受治疗的人员中选出的艾滋病毒感染儿童的护理人员进行访谈。持续访谈连续的护理人员，直至获得230名儿童的样本。所检查的关键变量包括：护理人员和儿童的人口统计学信息以及药物依从性水平。依从性的衡量指标包括：药物/药丸计数以及根据上次处方估算剩余糖浆量、护理人员报告（关于遵守诊所预约情况以及儿童服用抗逆转录病毒药物的时间）以及药物 refill 数据（来自药房记录）。使用SPSS 12.0.1版本进行数据分析，设定统计学显著性为P < 0.05。
基于服用抗逆转录病毒药物时间的依从性水平为56.1%，遵守诊所预约情况为45.7%，无抗逆转录病毒药物退回（即通过药丸计数评估服用了所有药物）为27%，药房药物 refill 为47.8%。总体平均依从性水平不理想，为44.2%。建议对艾滋病毒感染儿童的护理人员进行教育，使其了解严格按照规定剂量给儿童服用抗逆转录病毒药物的重要性。未来的研究应探索使用多种依从性衡量指标以及艾滋病毒感染儿童不依从的原因。
药物依从性水平不理想。
