Abebe Abera*,Beletech Fenti,Temamen Tesfaye,Fikadu Balcha
Background: Ethiopia is one of the Sub-Saharan Africa countries highly affected by HIV epidemics. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) alters and reduces progression to AIDS and prolongs and improves the quality of life among HIV infected population. For ART, at least 95% adherence is required to prevent the development of drug resistant viral strains. Non-adherence to ART may result in regimen failure, immune suppression and emergence of resistant viral strains, limited future treatment options, and higher treatment costs. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess factors influencing ART adherence among PLWHA on ART treatment in JUTH ART clinic. Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 221 PLWHA who had follow-up at JUTH ART clinic from February to March 2015. Data was collected through interview using structured questionnaire by graduating nursing students. Data was cleared and checked for completeness and compiled on excel sheet for analysis. Chi-square test was calculated at 5% level of significance to see the association between independent and dependent variables and p-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Finally the result was presented in text statement, figure and tables. Results: Of the total 221 participants more than half 153 (69%) were greater than 30 years, 144 (65.15%) were females, 167 (75.56%) were urban dwellers, 169 (76.43%) were Oromo ethnic group. Overall from the study participants 80 (36.19%) had poor adherence and 141 (63.8%) had good adherence to their ART treatment. Factors like educational status, residence, occupation and alcohol addiction are significantly associated with the level of adherence to ART treatment. Conclusion and recommendation: Although the prevalence of HIV/AIDS is reducing adherence remains as one of the challenges the control of HIV/AIDS where only around 2/3rd of PLWHA were well adhered to ART. Based on the finding of this study, JUTH should counsel patients about advantage of taking ART drugs properly, risk of not taking the medicines appropriately, the method how to remember the time of taking drugs and other factors that influence ART adherence.