Determinants of adherence to a single-dose nevirapine regimen for the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission in Gert Sibande district in South Africa.
OBJECTIVE
To identify factors that influence adherence to antiretroviral (ARV) prophylaxis by HIV positive mothers participating in the HIV prevention of mother to child (PMTCT) programme.


METHODS
Post-delivery 815 HIV-infected mothers aged 18 years and above with babies aged 3-6 months were interviewed in Gert Sibande District, Mpumalanga province, South Africa.


RESULTS
Eighty five percent of the mothers indicated that they had been provided with nevirapine and 78.4% took it before or at the onset of labour and infant nevirapine intake was 76.9%. In multivariate analysis it was found that women with better PMTCT knowledge had a higher perceived confidentiality about HIV status at the health facility. They had a term delivery and those who had told their partner about nevirapine had a higher maternal nevirapine adherence. Women who had also told their partner about nevirapine, whose partner was asked for an HIV test and those who knew the HIV status of their infant had higher infant nevirapine adherence.


CONCLUSIONS
Adherence to maternal and infant ARV prophylaxis was found to be sub-optimal. Health services delivery factors, male involvement, communication and social support contribute to adherence to ARV prophylaxis in this largely rural setting in South Africa.
Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Karl
K
Peltzer
Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Motlatso
M
Mlambo
Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Nancy
N
Phaswana-Mafuya
Human Sciences Research Council, Pretoria, South AfricaDepartment of Psychology, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa.
Rendani
R
Ladzani
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018445:Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D019829:Nevirapine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013019:South Africa; D055815:Young Adult; D016903:Drug Monitoring
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents; D019829:Nevirapine