Antiretroviral adherence and HIV virological outcomes in HIV-positive patients in Ugu District, KwaZulu-Natal Province
Loading...
Authors
Kapiamba, Muteba Germain
Issue Date
2014-11
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy , Pharmacy refill records , Viral suppression , HIV-positive patients , Ugu District
Alternative Title
Abstract
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is crucial to ensure viral suppression. In the scientific community it is widely accepted that an adherence level of at least 90% is necessary to achieve viral suppression. This study uses pharmacy refill records to describe antiretroviral adherence in HIV-positive patients in Ugu District and to describe pharmacy refill records as reliable monitoring method of antiretroviral therapy. In total, 61 patients’ records were reviewed. Overall, 82% of participants (n=50) achieved an optimum adherence level of at least 90%. Although 38% (n=19) of these participants did not show any related viral suppression. A statistically significant relationship between adherence and viral suppression was not demonstrated. Therefore, pharmacy refill records cannot be recommended as an alternative method of monitoring response to antiretroviral therapy, but laboratory tests including CD4 cell count and or viral load must be combined to pharmacy refill method for monitoring of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients
Description
Citation
Kapiamba, Muteba Germain (2014) Antiretroviral adherence and HIV virological outcomes in HIV-positive patients in Ugu District, KwaZulu-Natal Province, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/18852>