title: [Study of treatment adherence by patients living with HIV in 2009 at the outpatient care and treatment center of Brazzaville, Congo].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate treatment adherence and its determinants in patients living with HIV followed up at the outpatient care and treatment center in Brazzaville, Congo.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study included patients who attended the center from July to October 2009. Adherence was evaluated using a self-administered questionnaire, 5 distinct measurement tools, and global adherence index. Correlations between patient characteristics and adherence data were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 214 patients were enrolled in the study. Mean patient age was 42 years. The female-to-male ratio was 2. There were 6 children. Most patients (92.5%) were receiving a first-line antiretroviral regimen; it consisted of a combination of zidovudine, lamivudine and nevirapine in 53.3% of cases. Adherence was estimated at 55.4-86.9% depending on the measurement tool. The global adherence index was significantly higher in patients who achieved their pre-defined life project (OR 4.33, p = 0.04) and in those who spoke lingala (OR 3.99, p = 0.01). After 6 months of antiretroviral therapy, mean weight gain was 4.8 kg; mean increase in CD4 was 104/mm3 (262 versus 158); and viral load was undetectable in 89.4% of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study in Brazzaville (Congo) confirms that antiretroviral treatment adherence is satisfactory in sub-Saharan Africa. Adherence was mainly correlated with structural factors, e.g. language and life project, and with the patient friendliness of the regime. Most patients had favourable responses based on clinical, immunological, and virological criteria.
authors.affiliation: Département de médecine générale, Université Rennes 1. faurenicolas@live.fr
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Faure
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Diafouka
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nzounza
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Ekat
authors.forename: Nsonde D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Mahambou
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Levasseur
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Tattevin
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mouala
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Mattei
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003223:Congo; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016903:Drug Monitoring
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents