Adherence challenges: a cross sectional study of patients on antiretroviral therapy in a tertiary hospital in North Central Nigeria.

Background: Adherence to Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is a principal determinant of virologic suppression. ART is recommended for all people living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHIV) to achieve virologic, immunologic, clinical and humanistic outcomes. Non-adherence to treatment may interfere with treatment outcomes.

Objective: The main objective of this study was to identify the possible challenges of adherence among people on ART.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey design which administered structured questionnaires on 1000 adults on ART using simple random sampling technique. The study site was AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) clinic of Federal Medica! Centre, Makurdi. Simple percentages and correlations were used to analyse data.

Results: Cumulatively, patients’ factors (98.8%) and socio-cultural factors (98.5%) were found to be the predominant non-adherence factors. Singular non-adherence factors with the strongest impact were strike action, stigma, hunger, fear of side effects and lack of transportation. This study reports no significant relationship between adherence and demographic parameters both in the last 7 days and 3 months.

Condiusion: Strike action, stigma, hunger, fear of side effects and lack of transportation were found to be singular factors with highest impact on non-adherence amongst the study participants. Knowledge of HIV among participants was good, though adherence was sub-optimal.