Antiretroviral therapy adherence among patients Attending Hargeisa group hospital Hiv clinic, Hargeisa, Somaliland
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Date
2013-11
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kampala international international: School of Health Sciences
Abstract
BACKGROUND: ART adherence varies in different regions of the world. Garcia et al (2006)
had examined the relationship between self-reported adherence and viral load suppression. The
study showed that 76% of those reported adherence had a viral suppression versus only 25% of
subjects reported non-adherence (Rosa, 2006). No previous similar studies were done in
Somaliland. OBJECTIVES: This study assessed antiretroviral therapy adherence among patients attending Hargeisa Group Hospital (HGH) in Hargeisa, Somaliland.
METHODS: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was employed. A sample of 271 of
patients on ART at the HIV Clinic was interviewed and their CD4 documents reviewed. Key
informant interviews were held for 4 people from the clinic staff and management. A chi square
test was used to ascertain the relationship of independent variables with the dependent variable.
RESULTS: The study has shown that 80.8% of respondents adhered to ART at 95% or more of
the time. The study also has found that coming on foot to the clinic, living far from the clinic and
being newly diagnosed with HN were factors that led to ART non-adherence behavior. The
study also assessed other factors that were found to be not related to ART adherence in this
clinic. These factors include age, gender, education, marital status, patient's knowledge of HIV
and ARTs, family size and previous hospitalizations among other factors.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: The study found that the respondents who
come on foot to the clinic, those lived far from the clinic and those diagnosed with HIV less than
3 years ago were less likely to adhere to ART. The researcher is recommending, making the
services closer to the community by opening more clinics or by outreach programs.
Description
A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the Requirements for the award of the degree of Master of public health of Kampala International University
Keywords
Public health, Antiretroviral therapy, Adherence, Hargeisa group hospital Hiv clinic, Patients