title: Determinants of optimal adherence over time to antiretroviral therapy amongst HIV positive adults in South Africa: a longitudinal study.
abstract: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) requires strict adherence to achieve optimal clinical and survival benefits. A study was done to explore the factors affecting HAART adherence among HIV positive adults by reviewing routinely collected patient information in the Centre for the AIDS Programme of Research in South Africa's (CAPRISA) AIDS Treatment Programme. Records of 688 patients enrolled between 2004 and 2006 were analysed. Patients were considered adherent if they had taken at least 95% of their prescribed drugs. Generalized estimating equations were used to analyse the data. The results showed that HAART adherence increased over time, however, the rate of increase differed by some of the socio-demographic and behavioural characteristics of the patients. For instance, HAART adherence increased in both urban and rural treatment sites over time, but the rate of increase was higher in the rural site. This helped identify sub-populations, such as the urban population, that required ongoing adherence counseling.
authors.affiliation: School of Statistics and Actuarial Science, UKZN, Scottsville, South Africa. 206521995@ukzn.ac.za
authors.forename: Dikokole
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Maqutu
authors.forename: Temesgen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zewotir
authors.forename: Delia
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: North
authors.forename: Kogieleum
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Naidoo
authors.forename: Anneke
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grobler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012424:Rural Population; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013019:South Africa; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014505:Urban Population; D055815:Young Adult