Anti- Retoviral Therapy Adherence Among Hiv-Infected Children Aged 2-14 Years in Tikur Anbessa Sepcialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
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Date
2015-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a strong predictor of progression to
AIDS and death. The fact that a nearly perfect adherence is required in ART has remained a
major challenge to people infected with HIV. Consequently, non-adherence to the proposed
antiretroviral regimen is considered to be one of the greatest dangers to the response to treatment
on an individual level and the dissemination of resistant viruses on the community level.
Objectives: - The aim of the study was to identify the adherence level and associated factors
with adherence to ART among HIV infected children aged 2- 14 years in Black Lion Specialized
Hospital ART clinic, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Method: - A cross-sectional study was conducted between April and May, 2015 in Tikur
Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. A total of 190 children aged 2-14 years on
first line ARV regimen for at least six month were included in the study. The registered list of the
children on ART by unique ART registration number was used as sampling frame. Data was
collected by using interview with structured questionnaire. Ethical clearance was secured from
Addis Ababa University College of health sciences institutional ethical review board. The
collected data was cleaned, checked for quality, coded and analyzed by using manual and
statistical methods, logistic regressions were computed. Odds ratios were computed to determine
the level of significance.
Result: A total of 190 children were included in this study, and 89.8% of the participants had
taken their prescribed ARV drugs fully for the past 7 days. Considering individuals who had ever
missed their dose regardless of time reference, overall adherence rate 87.75% was obtained.
Although most frequently mentioned reason of missing their dose in the last one week was
forgetting (48.1%), ADRs, Quarrel among family are also found to be barriers to adherence.
After controlling the effects of other variables, two variables namely income and occupation were
found to be significantly associated with adherence to ART in children.
Conclusion: Adherence rate obtained in this study is lower than what is required. Forgetfulness,
ADRs, and quarrel among family were most frequently mentioned barriers of adherence.
Income and occupation are factors found to be significantly associated with adherence to ART in
children
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Tikur Anbessa Sepcialized Hospital