Adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy in a public hospital: an institution based cross-sectional study

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Background: The success of human immunodeficiency virus/ acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) treatment relies heavily on patient adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). Poor adherence is a leading cause of increased morbidity and mortality among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). This study examined the factors influencing treatment adherence among PLWHA receiving highly active ART (HAART) at Yekatit 12 hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional institution-based study was conducted from January to February 2015, involving 200 participants selected through systematic random sampling. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire, entered into spreadsheet software, and analyzed using IBM® SPSS® statistics version 25. Correlation analysis was used to evaluate participants' perceptions of the impact of ART category on adherence. Results: The mean age of the respondents was 35.9±5.9 years. The overall proportion of adherent people was 74.4±1.2%. "Being busy" (19.5%), "forgetfulness" (17.5%), and "I did not want others to notice the medication use" (9%) were the most common reasons given by participants. The percentage of adherence to ART was correlated with ART acceptability and availability. ART acceptability correlation was statistically significant; [r (200)=-0.96, p=0.03]. However, the ART availability correlation was insignificant; [r (200)=-0.061, p=0.3]. Conclusions: In summary, according to the WHO ART adherence standard, the average adherence level in this study was classified as poor. Enhancing adherence to ART necessitates implementing targeted adherence strategies, fostering strong patient–provider relationships, and promoting the use of memory aids.