FACTORS INFLUENCING ADHERENCE TO ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART) AMONG ADULT PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN SARIS, KALITY AND AKAKI HEALTH CENTERS, ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

This study was attempted to assess factors influencing adherence to ART among adult people living with HIV/AIDS in Saris, Kality and Akaki health centers, Akaki-Kality Sub city, Addis Ababa. A quantitative cross-sectional institution based study was conducted and the sample was taken from the three health centers proportionally based on the number of current patients on ART. The main objective of this study was to assess factors influencing adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) among Adult People Living with HIV/AIDS in Saris, Kality and Akaki Health Centers Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The mean of age respondents was 38 years, from the total respondents (422), 315 (74.64%) were females. Respondents’ one month adherence were assessed out of which, 128 (30.3%) had good adherence, 129(30.5%) of them had fair adherence and 165 (39%) had poor adherence. Lack of expected services from health facility by the respondents was directly associated with adherence (p= 0.015), the study shows as there was significant association of adherence and lack of different services provided by health facilities such as lack of good relationship between health care providers, lack of supplementary food, lack of other necessary drug and lack of differentiated service delivery. Smoking cigarette is also directly associated with adherence to ART, those who are smoking were less likely adhere to ART (p=0.02). Finally, the study hints that quality management/improvement practice of Saris, Kality and Akaki health centers need to be assessed to measure service quality and the satisfaction level of beneficiaries.