Factors affecting adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Andhra Pradesh, India

Authors

  • Bonu Naga Raju Psychologist, ART Centre, Govt District Hospital, Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Ganesh Shanmugasundaram Anusuya Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6853-6616
  • V. Hari Lakshmi Professor, Department of Psychology and Parapsychology, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Casper Johnson Senior ART Medical Officer, Govt District Hospital, Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Ezhil Radhakrishnan Technical Officer, National Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Rama Ravi Director, John and Jenner Centre for Research, Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
  • Ronaki Ramesh Additional District Medial & Health Officer, District AIDS Program Control Unit, Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Mangavalli Jagan Mohan Rao Medical Superintendent, Govt District Hospital, Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20190430

Keywords:

Adherence, ART, CD4 Counts, Literacy, Smoking, India

Abstract

Background: An important factor to effectiveness of ART is good adherence to treatment. This study aims to investigate the adherence levels to ART among people living with HIV (PLHIV) attending a Government ART centre in Anakapalli, Andhra Pradesh, India.

Methods: A cross sectional study was done among 1000 adult PLHIV receiving ART. Out of nearly 4500 patients on ART we selected 1000 patients by simple random sampling technique. The average of adherence for a period of 2 years and socio demographic details were taken from the patients treatment card. Chi square test was performed to find out significant difference between the socio-demographic variables and adherence level < 95%.

Results: Out of 1000 patients, 53.9% were male. 42.2% were in age group 31 to 40 years. 50.1 % had adherence >95%. Major factors influencing poor adherence were: decrease in weight (OR=18.65, p=0.000); decrease in CD4 counts (OR=20.12, p=0.000), presence of opportunistic infections (OR=12.67, p=0.000), WHO stage 3 and 4 illness (OR=6.50, p=0.000), travel distance to ART >50 kilometres (OR=1.94, p=0.000), smoker (OR=1.82, p=0.000),being illiterate (OR=1.72, p=0.000), and alcohol consumption (OR=1.58, p=0.001).

Conclusions: Careful monitoring of weight, CD4 counts and opportunistic infections can help to identify poor adherence early.

Author Biography

Ganesh Shanmugasundaram Anusuya, Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Tagore Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India

Associate  Professor, Dept of Community Medicine
Tagore Medical College and Hospital
Chennai, India

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Published

2019-02-22

How to Cite

Raju, B. N., Anusuya, G. S., Hari Lakshmi, V., Johnson, C., Radhakrishnan, E., Ravi, R., Ramesh, R., & Mohan Rao, M. J. (2019). Factors affecting adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Andhra Pradesh, India. International Journal Of Community Medicine And Public Health, 6(3), 1010–1014. https://doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20190430

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Original Research Articles