Husaini Danladi Chiroma, Parchue Jada, Orellana-Erazo Adita, Hyde Monisha Minelli, Uppala Kishan, Abubakar Yusuf, Harris-Thurton Lydia, Johnson Lisa J
Allied Health Department, Pharmacy Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Belize, Belmopan, Central America, Belize.
Global Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Belize, Belmopan, Central America, Belize.
AIDS Res Treat. 2025 May 25;2025:5552340. doi: 10.1155/arat/5552340. eCollection 2025.
The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the virus that attacks the body's functional immune system, targets the CD4 T-cells, progressing to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), and leading to death when improperly treated. Since, presently, HIV/AIDS has no known cure, adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is crucial to minimize viral replication and improve disease outcomes. However, many factors affect medication adherence among patients, sometimes leading to treatment failure and often resulting in complications that could lead to death. This study assessed medication adherence and factors affecting medication adherence to ART in HIV/AIDS patients in Belize. The research design was a cross-sectional study conducted in Belize at public hospitals and clinics across the country at locations where ART medicines are provided to patients. The participants were purposively selected from the nine testing and ART provision sites, being 18 years and older, and actively receiving ART. The visual analog scale (VAS) survey tool was utilized to obtain data on factors influencing treatment adherence. One hundred forty-seven participants, 18 years and older, receiving ART responded to the survey. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS. The study results indicated that 72.8% of the participants reported optimal adherence to the VAS assessment and 85.7% to the subjective assessment, thus reporting optimal or excellent adherence between 90% and 100%. Fear of disclosing HIV status due to discrimination and stigma was the main reason reported by participants, indicating the existence of stigma toward PLWHA among the Belizean population. The majority of the participants in this study reported optimal adherence to ART in Belize. The provision of more support, guidance, and counseling to patients living with HIV/AIDS is recommended. Public awareness to discourage and minimize discrimination and stigma toward HIV/AIDS patients was also recommended.
人类免疫缺陷病毒（HIV）是一种攻击人体功能性免疫系统的病毒，它以CD4 T细胞为目标，发展为获得性免疫缺陷综合征（AIDS），若治疗不当会导致死亡。目前，由于HIV/AIDS尚无已知的治愈方法，坚持抗逆转录病毒疗法（ART）对于最大限度地减少病毒复制和改善疾病预后至关重要。然而，许多因素会影响患者的药物依从性，有时会导致治疗失败，并常常引发可能导致死亡的并发症。本研究评估了伯利兹HIV/AIDS患者的药物依从性以及影响ART药物依从性的因素。研究设计为一项横断面研究，在伯利兹全国各地提供ART药物的公立医院和诊所开展。参与者是从九个检测和ART供应点中有意选取的，年龄在18岁及以上，且正在积极接受ART治疗。使用视觉模拟量表（VAS）调查工具获取有关影响治疗依从性因素的数据。147名18岁及以上接受ART治疗的参与者对调查做出了回应。使用SPSS对收集到的数据进行分析。研究结果表明，72.8%的参与者报告在VAS评估中依从性最佳，在主观评估中这一比例为85.7%，因此报告的最佳或优秀依从性在90%至100%之间。参与者报告的主要原因是由于歧视和耻辱而害怕披露HIV感染状况，这表明伯利兹人群中存在对艾滋病毒感染者的耻辱感。本研究中的大多数参与者报告在伯利兹对ART治疗的依从性最佳。建议为HIV/AIDS患者提供更多支持、指导和咨询。还建议提高公众意识，以减少和尽量消除对HIV/AIDS患者的歧视和耻辱感。
