Adherence to HIV antiretroviral therapy in HIV+ Ugandan patients purchasing therapy

• Published in: International journal of STD & AIDS Vol. 16; no. 1; pp. 38 - 41
• Main Authors: BYAKIKA-TUSIIME, J, OYUGI, J. H, TUMWIKIRIZE, W. A, KATABIRA, E. T, MUGYENYI, P. N, BANGSBERG, D. R
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.01.2005; Royal Society of Medicine Press; Sage Publications Ltd
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; AIDS/HIV; Anti-HIV Agents - economics; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiviral agents; Biological and medical sciences; Cross-Sectional Studies; Drug Therapy, Combination; Epidemiology. Vaccinations; Female; General aspects; HIV Infections - drug therapy; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Interviews as Topic; Logistic Models; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Patient Compliance; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors - economics; Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Uganda; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Uganda; Sub-Saharan Africa; Africa; SELF-PURCHASING; ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY; SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA; ADHERENCE; Human; Immunopathology; Antiretroviral agent; adherence; antiretroviral therapy; Retroviridae; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Adhesion; Infection; Virus; self-purchasing; Chemotherapy; sub-Saharan Africa; Sexually transmitted disease; Treatment; Viral disease; Antiviral; Treatment compliance; Human immunodeficiency virus
• ISSN: 0956-4624; 1758-1052
• DOI: 10.1258/0956462052932548

Our objective was to determine the level of adherence and reasons for non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among HIV-positive (HIV+) people on ART in a resource-limited setting. Patients receiving ART were recruited into the cross-sectional study from three treatment centres in Kampala, Uganda. The number of missed doses over the last three days was assessed by structured patient interviews and dichotomized at ±95% adherence. Reasons for non-adherence were assessed with both structured patient interviews and unstructured qualitative interviews. Independent predictors of non-adherence were assessed with multivariate logistic regression. In all, 304 HIV-infected persons on ART were enrolled into the study. Factors associated with non-adherence were marital status (odds ratio (OR) = 2.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32–6.50) and low monthly income <50 US$ [OR = 2.77, 95% CI 1.64–4.67]. We concluded that levels of self-reported adherence in patients receiving ART in Kampala are comparable to levels in resource-rich settings with inability to purchase and secure a stable supply as a major barrier to adherence.