ADHERENCE TO ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART) AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN SECONDARY HEALTH FACILITIES IN KADUNA, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA.

INTRODUCTION

HIV/AIDS is a disease of public health concern. UNAIDS at the global level aims to achieve 95% of people living with HIV know their status, 95% of those who know their status are accessing ART treatment, and 95% of people on treatment achieve suppressed viral load by the year 2030. Adherence remains a critical factor necessary to achieve this target. This study determines the factors affecting adherence to ART among PLWHA in secondary health facilities in Kaduna.

METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 320 PLWHA ART in 4 secondary health facilities in the Kaduna metropolis using a cluster sampling technique. Data was analysed using SPSS version 26. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore associations, level of statistical significance was set at p≤0.05.

RESULTS

The mean age of the respondents was 38.16 ± 11.95 Most 317 (99.1%) were on TDF/3TC/DTG, two PLWHA (0.6%) were on AZT/3TC/ATV/r combination of ART and one of the PLWHA (0.3%) was on ABC/3TC/DTG. Overall 25.9% had suboptimal adherence to ART. Factors affecting adherence include forgetfulness (ꭓ2=181, p=0.001) depression (ꭓ2 =41.8, p=0.001) stigma (ꭓ2 =12.1, p=0.001), lack of social support (ꭓ2 =30.8 p=0.0001) and duration on ART (ꭓ2 =11.1, p=0.012). The odds of sub-optimal adherence were significantly lower in those on ART for duration ≥ 24 months compared to duration of ART < 24 months among PLWHA on ART (AOR=0.36, 95% CI =0.18-0.73).

CONCLUSION

Sub-optimal Adherence to ART was high in this setting. There is a need for the clients' health education, comprehensive pre-initiation ART adherence counseling and an intensified social support system.