The correlation between CD4 cell counts and pharmacy refill records in Namibia : a retrospective study

Ehlers, V.J.; Tjipura, D.J.; Roos, Janetta H.

dc.contributor.author	Ehlers, V.J.
dc.contributor.author	Tjipura, D.J.
dc.contributor.author	Roos, Janetta H.
dc.date	2009
dc.date.accessioned	2013-05-23T05:54:19Z
dc.date.available	2013-05-23T05:54:19Z
dc.date.copyright	2009
dc.date.issued	2009
dc.identifier.citation	Ehlers, V.J.; Tjipura, D.J.; Roos, J.H. (2009) The correlation between CD4 cell counts and pharmacy refill records in Namibia : a retrospective study Africa Journal of Nursing and Midwifery 11(2) pp. 16-27	en
dc.identifier.issn	16825055
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10520/EJC19330
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10500/9677
dc.description.abstract	Adherence rates of at least 95% are required for optimum viral suppression and the prevention of viral mutation of drug resistant HIV strains, measured by CD4 cell and viral load counts, especially at the beginning of highly active anti retroviral treatment (HAART). A quantitative, retrospective and descriptive research design was used to determine whether pharmacy refill records correlated with patients' CD4 cell counts. The medical records of 176 adult patients were examined at a government hospital in Windhoek, Namibia. There was a weak positive relationship between CD4 cell counts and pharmacy refill records. The pharmacy refill records predicted CD4 cell counts to a limited extent, but should be used in combination with other adherence measurement tools, such as patients' adherence reports, and where financially feasible, viral load counts.	en
dc.language.iso	en	en
dc.publisher	Unisa	en
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dc.rights	© 2009 AJNM
dc.subject	Adherence to HAART	en
dc.subject	Anti-retro-viral therapy (ART)	en
dc.subject	CD4 cell counts	en
dc.subject	HIV-AIDS in Namibia	en
dc.subject	Pharmacy refill records	en
dc.title	The correlation between CD4 cell counts and pharmacy refill records in Namibia : a retrospective study	en
dc.type	Article	en
dc.description.department	Health Studies	en