Prevalence of non-adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy and its related clinical and therapeutic factors in Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso).

Abstract

The study included 152 patients. Their mean age was 40.7±7.8 years, and the sex-ratio 0.3. The frequency of non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy was 38.2%. In the univariate analysis, laboratory and clinical factors associated with non-adherence were severe immune depression (P=0.03), opportunistic infections (P=0.001), and lack of clinical improvement (P=0.001), while the therapeutic factors associated with it were inadequate knowledge (P=0.001), side effects (P=0.003), and using the treatment secretly (P=0.001). In the multivariate analysis, opportunistic infections (OR=13.51, 95% CI 3.15-58.82, P=0.000), lack of clinical improvement (OR=4.16, 95% CI 1.06-16.32, P=0.04), inadequate knowledge (OR=16.12, 95% CI 1.67-166.66, P=0.01), and secret treatment use (OR=11.36, 95% CI 3.18-40.00, P=0.000) remained associated with non-adherence. The study underlines the need to improve strategies for the prescription of this therapy and for reinforcing patients' education and support.