title: Self-reported adherence to antiretroviral therapy in HIV+ population from Bata, Equatorial Guinea.
abstract: The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) represent a serious public health problem in Equatorial Guinea, with a prevalence of 6.2% among adults. the high-activity antiretroviral treatment (HAART) coverage data is 10 points below the overall estimate for Sub-Saharan Africa, and only 61% patients continue with HAART 12 months after it started. This study aims to assess HAART adherence and related factors in Litoral Province of Equatorial Guinea. In this cross-sectional study, socio-demographic and clinical data were collected at Regional Hospital of Bata, during June-July 2014. Adherence to treatment was assessed by using the Spanish version of CEAT-VIH. Bivariate and linear regression analyses were employed to assess HAART adherence-related factors. We interviewed 50 men (35.5%) and 91 women (64.5%), with a mean age of 47.7 ± 8.9 and 36.2 ± 11.2, respectively (p < .001). Overall, 55% patients had low or insufficient adherence. CEAT-VIH score varied by ethnic group (p = .005). There was a positive correlation between CEAT-VIH score and current CD4 T-cells count (p = .013). The Cronbach's α value was 0.52. To our knowledge, this is the first study to assess HAART adherence in Equatorial Guinea. Internal reliability for CEAT-VIH was low, nonetheless the positive correlation between the CEAT-VIH score and the immunological status of patients add value to our findings. Our results serve as baseline for future research and will also assist stakeholders in planning and undertaking contextual and evidence-based policy initiatives.
authors.affiliation: a Intern of the Spanish Society of Tropical Medicine and International Health , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Jon
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salmanton-García
authors.affiliation: b National Centre for Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) , Madrid , Spain.|c Tropical Diseases Research Network (RICET in Spanish) , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Zaida
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Herrador
authors.affiliation: d National Institute of Social Security of Equatorial Guinea (INSESO in Spanish) , Bata , Equatorial Guinea.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Seco
authors.affiliation: b National Centre for Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) , Madrid , Spain.|e Reference Centre for Epidemics Control of Equatorial Guinea (CRCE in Spanish) , Malabo , Equatorial Guinea.
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nzang-Esono
authors.affiliation: f Reference Unit for Infectious Diseases (UREI in Spanish), Regional Hospital of Bata , Bata , Equatorial Guinea.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bendomo
authors.affiliation: f Reference Unit for Infectious Diseases (UREI in Spanish), Regional Hospital of Bata , Bata , Equatorial Guinea.
authors.forename: Emma
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bashmakovic
authors.affiliation: g National Plan Against AIDS (PNLS in Spanish), Ministry of Healthcare and Social Welfare , Malabo , Equatorial Guinea (MINSABS in Spanish).
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nseng-Nchama
authors.affiliation: b National Centre for Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) , Madrid , Spain.|c Tropical Diseases Research Network (RICET in Spanish) , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Agustín
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Benito
authors.affiliation: b National Centre for Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) , Madrid , Spain.|c Tropical Diseases Research Network (RICET in Spanish) , Madrid , Spain.
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Aparicio
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016703:Equatorial Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D057566:Self Report; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D019562:Viral Load; D016903:Drug Monitoring
keywords: CEAT-VIH; Equatorial Guinea; HIV; adherence; questionnaire