TITLE:
Factors That Influence Anti-Retroviral Therapy Adherence among Women in Lilongwe Urban Health Centres, Malawi
AUTHORS:
Noel Dzimnenani Mbirimtengerenji, Getrude Jere, Shyle Lengu, Alfred Maluwa
KEYWORDS:
ARV Adherence; Anti-Retroviral Therapy; Urban Health Centres
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of AIDS,
Vol.3 No.1,
March
29,
2013
ABSTRACT:
Introduction: Sub-SaharanAfricaremains most severely
affected, with nearly1 inevery 20 adults (4.9%) living with HIV and this is accounting for 69% of the
people worldwide. Although the regional prevalence of HIV infection is nearly
25 times higher in sub-Saharan Africa than in Asia, almost 5 million people are
living with HIV in South, South-East and East Asia combined. Purpose: The purpose of this study was
to find out the factors that influence anti-retroviral therapy adherence among
women in Lilongwe Urban,Malawi. Methods: a descriptive cross-sectional design was used to study multi
sites using quantitative methods. The sites were ART clinics at Area 18 health
centre, and Area 25 health centre. A questionnaire was used to a convenient
sample of 118 HIV positive women. Quantitative data from close-ended questions
were coded and analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science
(SPSS), version 16. Logistic regression model was used to execute the potential
covariates. Findings: ART adherence
among women is influenced by knowledge levels on: perceived importance and
consequences for not adhering to ART; Short waiting time; good relationships
with the next of kin and service providers; trust and effective coping
mechanisms to stressful events. Source of
information was highly associated with adherence in the logistic regression OR ≤ 2.89; CI (1.66 ± 5.38); p (0.039). Moreover, Short waiting time
of the women at the hospital during the ARV refill period is highly associated
with ART adherence level OR ≤ 4.11; CI (2.05 ± 6.12); p (0.021). On the other hand, factors
that contribute to non-adherence are reduced knowledge level p0.002; Side
effects of ART; bad relationships with service providers and relationship with
the next of kin as well as occupation of the clients (women). Conclusion: Despite stressful events to HIV
positive living women, this study revealed that the majority of these
participants would continue taking ART if the factors are very minimal.
Encouraging the women who stop taking ART particularly in urban health centres
due to such factors like religious beliefs that God is superior and will heal
them would influence the ART survival rate in Malawi.