Adherence to antiretroviral therapy and its associated factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND

HIV/AIDS became a chronic illness since the introduction of Anti-Retroviral-Therapy which needs ongoing assessment for adherence to prevent treatment failure.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to assess antiretroviral therapy adherence and its associated factors.

METHODS

A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted on 420 People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who were attending Anti-Retroviral-Therapy clinic at Tikur Anbessa, Zewditu and St Paul's Hospitals from March to April 2009. Systematic random sampling technique was used to select the participants from their document. Then Data were collected, checked, categorized, coded and analyzed using SPSS 15.0 statistical package.

RESULT

From the total 420 respondents, 244 (58.1%) were women. Among the respondents, 308 (73.3%) had adhered to Anti-Retroviral-Therapy (ART). Respondents who had good relationship with health care provider had 3.15 times more likely to adhere to ART compared to those who had poor relationship. Those who stated stigma and discrimination as a major problem were 81% less likely to adhere to ART compared to those who stated stigma and discrimination not to be a problem at all.

CONCLUSION

The findings of the study indicate that ART adherence rate to be low. The study also showed that Stigma and discrimination, and poor relationship with health care provider to be associated with low adherence. Based on the finding, keep away from stigmatization and discrimination, and enhancing good relationship need to be given attention for improving ART adherence.