Factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral treatment among people living with HIV aged 15 – 60 years at Cité des Palmiers District Hospital, Cameroon

Abstract

Antiretroviral therapy (ART), essential for halting the progression of human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infection and restoring immunity, should be taken regularly to be effective. This study aimed to assess the factors that may affect adherence to ART among people living with HIV (PLHIV) aged between 15 and 60 years at the Cité des Palmiers District Hospital. Thus, we conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study using a non-probabilistic, convenience survey. Data were collected using a questionnaire administered to PLHIV aged between 15 and 65 years (n = 309). These factors affecting adherence were established by determining relative and absolute frequencies, and associations were estimated by calculating the odds ratios, confidence intervals, and P-values. Subsequently, 48.5% of participants were found to comply with ART and 51.5% were not. The independent predictors of poor adherence to ART were missed appointments at the HIV unit, occasional use of excitants/cigarettes, fear of disclosing HIV status, perceived limited opening hours of HIV-related services, discomfort with medication, recent initiation of treatment, and use of therapy reminders. Our study results are essential to orient public health policies and measures toward PLHIV non-adherents to ART treatment and mitigate the social, economic, and health impact of HIV threats on developing countries by focusing on good adherence.