Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment Among Adult HIV Patients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: A Facility-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) has paramount significance to reduce HIV replication, warding off viral resistance, and decrease HIV – related morbidity and mortality. HIV patients have been challenged to attain the optimal level of adherence to ART owing to a variety of social, psychological, spiritual, and medical reasons.To examine factors associated with adherence among HIV patients taking antiretroviral treatment at five government hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.A survey was conducted in ART clinics of five randomly selected hospitals in Addis Ababa from January 21, 2018 to February 25, 2018. Data collected using six standardized scales were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics was used to summarize socio-demographic information, estimate the prevalence of alcohol use, depression, and adherence to antiretroviral treatment. ANOVA and t tests were used to examine mean differences, and multiple regression was used to identify the contribution of the independent variables on the dependent variables at95% confidence Interval and a statistical significance p< .001. Adult HIV patients consisting of 64% were fully adhered to ART, 52% reported current use of alcohol, and 55.6% reported having some degree of depressive symptoms. Alcohol use (𝛽= -.059), depressive symptoms (𝛽= -.022) and HIV disclosure stigma (𝛽= -.034) were associated with adherence. In conclusion, ART adherence was significantly associated with alcohol use, depressive symptoms and HIV disclosure stigma. Addressing psychosocial factors related to ART adherence would help Adult HIV patients to improve their level of adherence.