title: Self-reported adherence to treatment: a study of socioeconomic factors and psychiatric morbidity among male and female patients with HIV infection in Sokoto, Nigeria. Running title: Treatment adherence, socioeconomic factors and psychiatric morbidity in HIV patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Adherence to treatment is important and relevant in HIV treatment. Previous studies in sub Sahara Africa and south western Nigeria reported that psychiatric morbidity influence treatment adherence. The present study was to examine treatment adherence among the male and the female patients with HIV infection and the effect of socioeconomic factors and psychiatric morbidity on treatment adherence.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 159 patients which comprised of 48 male and 111 female who were eligible for this cross sectional prospective study were included having given their consent to participate. Questionnaire relating to socioeconomic factors and treatment adherence were administered. Psychiatric morbidity was assessed using HADS. Data was analyzed with SPSS for windows version 16.0.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment adherence was poor in 5.3% of the patients. The male patients had slightly better adherence than the female patients. Factors associated with poor treatment adherence include poor clinic attendance, presence of anxiety symptoms in males and poor education attainment in females.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment adherence is related to socioeconomic factors and psychiatric morbidity. Treatment protocol in which mental health and detailed socioeconomic circumstance of patient is an integral part should be encouraged.
authors.forename: Mufutau A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yunusa
authors.forename: Chibueze H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Njoku
authors.forename: Ayo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Obembe
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires