Compliance of healthcare providers with National treatment guidelines for HIV/AIDS.

Background: Evidence had shown that low compliance with treatment guidelines by healthcare providers may result in incomplete care of patients thereby defeating the aim of HIV disease management and control.

Objectives: This study was conducted to compare the compliance of a site ART treatment team with the National Guidelines' recommendation on criteria for treatment initiation and regimen change among HIV/AIDS experienced patients.

Methods: In a retrospective observational double cohort study, the medical records of all adults HIV/AIDS positive and treatment experienced patients (N=267) whose ART regimen were either substituted or switched between January 2008 and June 2009 were evaluated for the fulfilment of criteria required before treatment initiation and change of therapy.

Results: The level of compliance with guidelines' recomendations for therapy initiation ranged from 0% - 84.3% (mean= 31.4%; median = 23.2%; SD =21.5%) while compliance with guidelines' recommendations for regimen change ranged from 0% - 61.4% (mean= 31.4%; median = 3.8%; SD =21.5%). There was 100% and 89.2% compliance with 'what to start' and 'when to start' respectively.

Conclusions: Majority of the patients were given appropriate ART regimen at the right time based on the guideline recommendations but compliance with guideline's recommendations for therapy change was poor. The extent of compliance with guideline's recommendations is critical to success of HIV/AIDS control programme.