Motivating factors to antiretroviral treatment adherence by people living with HIV in Ndola district

Abstract

Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) is a major global public health challenge and a barrier in the management of HIV. The main aim of the study was to determine motivating factors to ART adherence by people living with HIV in Ndola district. This was a cross sectional study conducted in Ndola urban district. Convenient sampling method was used to select 150 respondents. Face to face interviews using a structured, interview schedule was used to collect data from the respondents. Data was analyzed using IBM SSPS version 24.0. Descriptive statistics and inferential statistics were applied and Chi-square test was used to test associations between the dependent variable and independent variables. Level of significant was set at 0.05 % with 95% confidence interval.

Most of the respondents (77.7%) had lived with the HIV infection for more than 19 years, 93.6% were able to disclose their status and 59.3% lived with their children. More than three quarters (84%) of the respondents did not know the benefits of taking Antiretrovirals (ARVs) and 84% did not know the importance of ART adherence. Most respondents (56.7%) initiated ART when their CD4 count was less than 350/mm3, while 43.3% initiated ART when the CD4 count was > 350/mm3. Most respondent were on a one regime treatment (75.3%) and 55.4% had someone to remind them when to take their medications. Of the persons to remind the respondents 35.3% were their spouses, 74% of the respondents’ reported that they sometimes forgot to take their ARVs. The reasons for forgetting to take drugs included being busy (9.3%), intoxicated with alcohol, (5.3%), feeling stigmatized (2.7%), in a hurry ( 0.7%) while 20% did not give any reason. Further analysis of data did not show any relationship between ART adherence and other variables except the level of education (P value 0.016). The study findings revealed that adherence to ARVs was influenced by the knowledge of the benefits of taking ARVs, importance of taking ARVs and the level of education of the respondents. There is need therefore to strengthen and continuously provide information, education and communication by all the relevant stakeholders using both print and electronic media on ART adherence.