Volume : 7, Issue : 1, January - 2018

ADHERENCE TO ANTIRETROVIRAL DRUG TREATMENT AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS: A STUDY FROM EASTERN NEPAL

Yadav Deepak Kumar, Karki Prahalad, Yadav Sabita, Jha Nilambar

Abstract :

<p>&nbsp;</p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;&#10;text-align:justify;line-height:200%;tab-stops:0in"><b><span style="font-family:&#10;&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Introduction:</span></b><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> HIV/AIDS has threatened an enormous worldwide challenge on the survival of mankind. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV is increasingly being introduced and utilized in diverse areas of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;&#10;text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Objectives</span></b><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">: To determine adherence to ART and associated factors with adherence among HIV positive subjects receiving ARV therapy.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;&#10;text-align:justify;line-height:200%"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Methodology:</span></b><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> In this cross sectional study total of 300 HIV positive subjects were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire from Sunsari, Morang and Jhapa districts of Eastern Nepal. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;&#10;text-align:justify;line-height:200%;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:&#10;none"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;">Result:</span></b><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;"> </span><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;&#10;mso-bidi-language:NE">The median age for patients was 34 yr. Mean 4-day adherence was 92 percent. Adherence was lower over longer periods of recall. On univariate analysis less than university education, being unemployed, obtaining free treatment, severe depression,<span style="mso-spacerun:yes">&nbsp; </span>hospitalization &gt;2 times, having moderate to severe side-effects and taking 4 or more medicines were associated with lower adherence (&lt;90%). <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;&#10;text-align:justify;line-height:200%;mso-layout-grid-align:none;text-autospace:&#10;none"><b><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;mso-bidi-language:NE">Conclusion:</span></b><span style="font-family:&quot;Arial&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;;mso-bidi-language:NE"> Although the overall adherence was high, lower levels of adherence were documented among poor patients receiving free ART. <o:p></o:p></span></p>