Abstract
BackgroundAs antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV becomes increasingly available in low and middle income countries (LMICs), understanding reasons for lack of adherence is critical to stemming the tide of infections and improving health. Understanding the effect of psychosocial experiences and mental health symptomatology on ART adherence can help maximize the benefit of expanded ART programs by indicating types of services, which could be offered in combination with HIV care.MethodologyThe Coping with HIV/AIDS in Tanzania (CHAT) study is a longitudinal cohort study in the Kilimanjaro Region that included randomly selected HIV-infected (HIV+) participants from two local hospital-based HIV clinics and four free-standing voluntary HIV counselling and testing sites. Baseline data were collected in 2008 and 2009; this paper used data from 36 month follow-up interviews (N = 468). Regression analyses were used to predict factors associated with incomplete self-reported adherence to ART.ResultsIncomplete ART adherence was significantly more likely to be reported amongst participants who experienced a greater number of childhood traumatic events: sexual abuse prior to puberty and the death in childhood of an immediate family member not from suicide or homicide were significantly more likely in the non-adherent group and other negative childhood events trended toward being more likely. Those with incomplete adherence had higher depressive symptom severity and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In multivariable analyses, childhood trauma, depression, and financial sacrifice remained associated with incomplete adherence.DiscussionThis is the first study to examine the effect of childhood trauma, depression and PTSD on HIV medication adherence in a low income country facing a significant burden of HIV. Allocating spending on HIV/AIDS toward integrating mental health services with HIV care is essential to the creation of systems that enhance medication adherence and maximize the potential of expanded antiretroviral access to improve health and reduce new infections.
Highlights
An estimated 33.4 million people are living with HIV infection, with over two-thirds living in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA)
This is the first study to examine the effect of childhood trauma, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) on HIV medication adherence in a low income country facing a significant burden of HIV
Allocating spending on HIV/AIDS toward integrating mental health services with HIV care is essential to the creation of systems that enhance medication adherence and maximize the potential of expanded antiretroviral access to improve health and reduce new infections
Summary
An estimated 33.4 million people are living with HIV infection, with over two-thirds living in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the World Bank Multi-Country AIDS Program, the number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in less wealthy nations has increased from roughly 400,000 in 2003 to more than 8 million in 2012 [1]. In the Kilimanjaro region, Ramadhani et al demonstrated that despite relatively high rates of adherence among patients who had been receiving ART for 6 months or longer, lack of complete virologic suppression was identified in 32% and ART resistance was identified in 10% of 150 patients [12]. As antiretroviral therapy (ART) for HIV becomes increasingly available in low and middle income countries (LMICs), understanding reasons for lack of adherence is critical to stemming the tide of infections and improving health. Understanding the effect of psychosocial experiences and mental health symptomatology on ART adherence can help maximize the benefit of expanded ART programs by indicating types of services, which could be offered in combination with HIV care
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
