Fantahun, Mesganaw (MD, MPH, PhD)Hailu, Tsega2021-06-272023-11-052021-06-272023-11-052010-06http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/26980Abstract Back ground: PLWHA on ART follow –up individuals may or may not have mobile phones,ability to use text messages and willingness to receive text message reminders to take their drugs. But the extent of theses desires and how it varies by individual, social, health and demographic characteristics is not well understood. Objective: to assess the feasibility of using text messages among ART follow up patients to improve drug adherence in selected ART units in Addis Ababa city administration. Method: The study was undertaken from March to April 2010, using quantitative cross-sectional study supplemented by qualitative in-depth interview on a sample of 461 PLWHA on ART follow up care for quantitative and 14 respondents for qualitative. Study subjects were selected using stratified random sampling method. A pre- tested structured questionnaire was used to collect data; Data were entered, cleaned, and analyzed using SPSS version 16 Result- One hundred twenty five (82.8%) male and ninety-three (79.5%) female over all 218 (81.3 %) of the total respondents PLWHA on ART follow-up in Addis Ababa were willing to receive (SMS) text message reminders. Of those who have willingness to receive text message reminders had disclosure of HIV status to their partner or family with (adjusted OR: 0.03, 95%CI:( 0.01-0.08) times more likely willing to receive SMS text message reminders than those who did not disclose their HIV status. In addition, respondents who attended elementary school (adjusted OR: 8.21, 95% CI: 1.59-42.33) times more likely to receive text message than those who do not attended school and those who secondary school (adjusted OR: 58.65, 95% CI:12.18-280.12) times more likely to receive text messages than those who did not attended school. One hundred forty eight (68.2%) of PLWHA on ART follow-up individuals wanted to receive text message reminders of time to take their drugs Conclusion: High proportion of HIV positive individuals on ART follow-up wanted to receive text message reminders, of time to take their drugs. Their willingness to receive text message reminders of these people has implication to introduce or adoption (SMS) text message technology with designed special computer software program that automatically sends special message service ) $ * to improve drug adherence.en-USDrug adherence ,patientsThesis