title: Nonadherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among People Living with HIV/AIDS Attending Two Tertiary Care Hospitals in District of Northern India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is a principal predictor for the success of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) treatment. It remains as a challenge to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) treatment and care with the widespread of the associated risks. Therefore, study aims to assess nonadherence level and factors associated with nonadherence to ART among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA).
  
  
  METHODS
  A hospital-based, cross-sectional study was conducted at two tertiary care hospital of Lucknow. A total of 322 adult HIV-positive patients registered in the ART center were included. Systematic random sampling was used to recruit patients. Nonadherence was assessed on the basis of pill count method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 10.9% of patients were found to be nonadherent to ART. Principal causes cited were being busy with other work (40.0%), felt sick or ill (28.5%), not having money (14.2%), and being away from home (11.4). Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that nonadherence was significantly associated with nonbeneficial perceptions towards ART (odds ratio (OR) 18.5; 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.2-106.6; P = 0.001), being counseled for adherence for more than 3 months (OR 13.9; 95% CI 1.6-118.9; P = 0.01), presence of depression (OR 2.6; 95% CI 1.0-6.7; P = 0.04), and those who were not satisfied with healthcare facilities (OR 5.63; 95% CI 1.88-16.84; P = 0.00).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although adherence to ART varies between individuals and over time, the factors that affect nonadherence can be addressed with proper periodic counseling and motivation of patients and their family members. Adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) could delay the progression of this lethal disease and minimize the risk of developing drug resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Mukesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shukla
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Jai Vir
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Hematology, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anil Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Tripathi
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Anand Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine and Public Health, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Vijay Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Singh
keywords: Antiretroviral therapy; nonadherence; pill count