Factors Affecting Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Southwest Ethiopia
Author Information
Author(s): Amberbir Alemayehu, Woldemichael Kifle, Getachew Sofonias, Girma Belaineh, Deribe Kebede
Primary Institution: Butajira Birth Cohort Study, School of Public Health, Addis Ababa University
Hypothesis
What are the predictors of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-infected persons in Southwest Ethiopia?
Conclusion
The study found that adherence to antiretroviral therapy is influenced by social support and the use of memory aids.
Supporting Evidence
- Self-reported dose adherence was 94.3% at follow-up.
- Adherence decreased by more than 3% over three months.
- Patients with social support were more likely to adhere to therapy.
Takeaway
This study shows that people with HIV in Ethiopia mostly remember to take their medicine, but sometimes forget or feel too sick to do so.
Methodology
A prospective study with 400 HIV-infected individuals, using structured questionnaires at baseline and follow-up.
Potential Biases
Self-reported adherence may be subject to social desirability and recall biases.
Limitations
The study was conducted at a single site, which may limit generalizability.
Participant Demographics
Participants were mostly female (59.8%), with a median age of 30 years, and primarily from Jimma, Ethiopia.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.038
Confidence Interval
1.04, 3.21
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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