Abstract

AN AUDIT OF SELF – AND CAREGIVER - REPORTED MEDICATION AND OTHER CONTEXTUAL CORRELATES OF ADHERENCE AMONG HIV INFECTED CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS IN A TEACHING HOSPITAL IN SOUTHWEST NIGERIA

*Eniojukan, Joshua Funsho and Adeyemo, Deborah Adedolapo

Abstract

Non-adherence to Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is common in all groups of treated individuals. For most patients, near-perfect adherence is necessary to achieve full viral suppression. There is a close relationship between adherence and HIV-related morbidity and mortality. This study evaluated self- and caregiver- reported adherence to ART, predictors and other contextual correlates of adherence among 132 children and adolescents with HIV infection at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Pre-tested questionnaires were administered to 109 primary caregivers and a subgroup of adolescents (23) who assessed their own adherence. Data generated from the questionnaire were coded, entered and analyzed using SPSS 15.0. Most of the respondents (90%) reported excellent and good health status after commencement of therapy. The self-reported adherence to the specific timing for taking the medications was 72.7 %. The self reported adherence to number of doses of medications missed irrespective of specific timing of the dosing was 75%. The overall rate of self reported adherence was 74 %. The most reported reason for missed doses was care-giver not being around to give the drug. Majority of respondents needed a prompting strategy to ensure adherence to instructions. Over half of respondents had not disclosed the HIV status to anybody. Viral load, age, and child‟s relationship with Caregiver were identified as influencing adherence. Stigmatization and disclosure status were not associated with poor adherence. The details of the contextual correlates of adherence in this study should be factored into appropriate intervention strategies which would promote adherence to ART.

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