Factors influencing anti-retroviral therapy adherence in Ethiopia

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess levels of HAART adherence and factors affecting it. An observational, analytic, cross-sectional and quantitative study using IMB model was conducted on a randomly selected 349 HIV/AIDS patients on a HAART regimen. Data collection was done by interviewing respondents using a structured questionnaire. Both descriptive and inferential statistics used in the study. Only 80.2% of the total sample population reported a HAART adherence rate of more than or equal to 95% in this study. The findings highlight the need for on-going educational, informational and other interventions to address the knowledge, motivation and adherence behavioural skills of patients in order to improve the current levels of HAART adherence behaviour. The study also suggested the need for research into objective measures of adherence as well as longitudinal studies on adherence behaviour because strict adherence to treatment is a long-term process and not a one-time activity.