Adherence to antiretroviral treatment of HIV positive patients in Lira District, Northern Uganda

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to determine the factors that affect adherence to ART among AIDS patients in Lira district, northern Uganda. The cross sectional studies was carried out on people living with HIV and were receiving free ART services in Lira District at AMACH Health Center (IV), BARR Health Center (III), and OGUR Health Center (IV). Secondary data were collected by reviewing 208 ART files for patients above 11 years from these Health Centers respectively. Adherence was measured by self- report, and patients were identified as having poor (sub-optimal) adherence if they took less than 95% of their pills during either the previous two days or four days. Data were presented using proportions, frequency tables, percentages, standard deviations and histograms. Pearson chi square statistics was used to determine significant associations between the dependent and independent variables. Logistic regression was used to further identify the factors associated with poor adherence. The final logistic model identified the following factors significantly associated with : Forgetfulness (OR=0.06, p-value=0.000), lack of Food (p-value=0.008; OR=0.15) and alcohol (OR=0.104; p-value=0.022) were the patients factors affecting adherence, Stigma (OR=0.06; p-value=0.01) and lack of partner support (OR=0.06; p-value=0.000) were the community factors affecting adherence, Distance (OR=0.07, p-value=0.000) and Drug stock- out (OR=0.045, p-value =0.037) were the health facility factors affecting adherence; Forgetfulness was the most common reason for non-adherence. Therefore, the ART counselors need to give emphasis on memory aids. Interventions to improve and sustain adherence should focus within the clinic to improve on interactions between the clients and the ART in-charges and outside the ART clinic to improve on patients’ social support, drug availability, campaign against stigma and others may be required.