title: Indicators of adherence to antiretroviral therapy treatment among HIV/AIDS patients in 5 African countries.
abstract: As the HIV epidemic threatens the social fabric of countries struggling with HIV prevalence rates as high as 10% to 30%, access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) alone is only the beginning of the clinical challenge. There is a need to identify adherence indicators that will ensure long-term treatment success. A cross-sectional review of 921 adult patients on ART for at least 1 year was conducted. Through an administered adherence survey, key indicators were found to be highly correlated with patient adherence. The adherence rate in this sample was 72% after being on treatment for an average of 15 months. This data suggest that having a high perceived quality of care and owning one's own home positively affected patients' adherence. Indicators such as alcohol use in the last month and a high level of depression negatively affected patients' adherence. Targeting specific indicators for specific interventions will guard against nonadherence, leading to treatment failure.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Human Virology of the University of Maryland School of Medicine, 725 West Lombard Street, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA. metienne@ihv.umaryland.edu
authors.forename: Martine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Etienne
authors.forename: Mian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hossain
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Redfield
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stafford
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amoroso
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000349:Africa; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D015497:HIV-1; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011203:Poverty; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D011788:Quality of Life; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents