Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Level and Associated Factors Among HIV/AIDS Patients in Jimma Zone Government Health Facilities, ART Clinics, South-west Ethiopia

Abstract

Optimal and strict adherence to Antiretroviral Viral Therapy a need for over the long period to achieve the goals of ART and obtain maximum benefits of ART. However, PLWHA find it very difficult to take ARVs drug as precisely as they should for a number of reasons. Therefore, this study aimed at examining the level of antiretroviral therapy adherence and identifying possible associated factors for ART adherence behavior in Jimma zone government ART facilities. A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in the ART clinics of Jimma zone governmental health facilities in which ARV treatment supplied from November 25/2015 – February 30/2016 for a period of 4 months. 352 adult PLWHA (190 female and 162 male) ranged in age from 15-62 years (Mean=37.1, SD= 8.95), with 100% response rate, were our study participants. Binary logistic regression was used to perform bivariate and multivariate analyses to determine the association between study variables and ART adherence status. 259(73.6%) participants were adherent (>=95%) and 93(26.4%) were non-adherent (<95%) to the prescribed dose of ARV drugs over the past seven days prior to the interview. The main reasons for skipping the prescribed ARV drugs were, busyness (78.5%), having too many pills (71%), felt depressed (68.8%), taking the drugs reminded HIV infected (66.7%), did not want other see (62.4%), and felt asleep(60.2%). The last stepwise regression analysis revealed that, educational status, knowledge of HIV/AIDS, use of additional drugs and access to reliable pharmacy were significantly associated with ART adherence status. So, efforts to maximize ART adherence should focus on addressing these associated significant factors.