Prevalence and factors associated with non-adherence to HAART among HIV-positive women in reproductive age in kayunga district.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Globally approximately 40.3 million people are infected with HIV, of whom 25.8 million are in sub-saharan Africa. Women living in sub-saharan Africa are more affected by HIV/AIDS than any other population in the world. Two thirds of all new HIV infections worldwide occur in sub Saharan Africa and over 60% of these infections are in women. Indeed, 70% of all women. The survival of people diagnosed with HIV/AIDS dramatically improves with access to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Patients should be striving for as close to 100% adherence as possible to ensure therapeutic success. OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence of non-adherence to ART use among HIV positive women in reproductive age and associated factors in kayunga district. METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study design employing both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The study was conducted in centres that offer ART services in the Kayunga district. A total of 359 HIV-infected women in reproductive were enrolled in the study. The level of non-adherence was assessed as percentage of drugs prescribed to those actually taken at 5% bench mark in the last three days. RESULTS: The prevalence of non-adherence in the previous three days before the interview was 13.4% (N=359) at 5% benchmark. Factors associated with non-adherence at 5% bench mark were being married (OR=5.21,1.31-20.75), Widowed (OR=2.99, 0.83-10.78), Obtaining treatment from Bbaale H/C IV (OR=3.31, 1.31-7.90) and Kangulumira H/C IV (OR=3.30, 1.43-10.63). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of non adherence in women of reproductive age in kayunga district was 13.4% in the last three days before the interview. This rate is lower than other rates in similar studies, however, it is still worrisome given the fear of development of resistance to the available drug regimens, which factor may lead to increased morbidity and mortality of HIV/AIDS patients.