title: Adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy and associated factors among children at the University of Gondar Hospital and Gondar Poly Clinic, Northwest Ethiopia: a cross-sectional institutional based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in suppressing viral replication and delaying the progress of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is related to optimal adherence. Adherence is a challenge in all HIV infected people on ART. It is especially a concern in children because of factors relating to children such as age, disclosure status of HIV sero status, and understanding of the medication. This study assessed the level of adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy and its associated factors among children in Gondar University Hospital and Gondar Poly Clinic, Northwest Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Institutionally based cross-sectional study design was conducted from January-to March 2012. Simple random sampling technique was used to select study participants and a total of 342 study subjects were included in the study. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to identify associated factors with adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy. Odds ratios with 95% confidence interval were computed to determine the level of significance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall ART adherence among children was found to be 90.4%. Age of the child [AOR = 0.37 (95% CI: 0.31, 0.46)], disclosure of the child's HIV status to the child [AOR = 0.27 (95% CI: 0.24, 0.32)], and knowledge of caregivers about ART medication [AOR = 4.7 (95% CI (3.7, 5.6)], were independently associated with adherence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Adherence rate to ART was found to be high. Disclosure of the child's HIV sero status to the child, the age of the child and the knowledge of the caregivers towards ART were factors associated with adherence.
authors.affiliation: University of Gondar, College of medicine and Health science, Institute of public health, Department of Epidemiology and Bio-statistics, P,O, Box: 196, Gondar, Ethiopia. berihunassefa21@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Berihun Assefa
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Dachew
authors.forename: Tadis Brhane
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Tesfahunegn
authors.forename: Anteneh Messele
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Birhanu
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires