Abstract

Adherence is engagement and accurate participation of an informed patient in a plan of care. A combination of factors:-the relationships between the patient and the provider, medication issues, psychological status, and structural issues can impede adherence efforts. The objectives were to assess barriers of adherence to antiretroviral drugs (ART) among Human immunodeficiency virus or Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) infected persons in Nekemte Referral Hospital, Ethiopia. The descriptive cross-sectional study design was conducted from March 1st to March 31st 2017. Data was collected from 321 client following ART unit of this hospital using interviewer administered questionnaire. A systematic sampling technique was used. The data were checked for completeness, cleared, coded and entered into computer software Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20 after collected. Data analysis was done and the statistical association between variable was described using logistic regression. The result of the study is summarized using tables, graphs and figures. From all, 89 (27.70%) missed taking their ART drug in the last month prior to data collection. Factors of non-adherence were age, educational status, using reminder, drinking alcohol, co-worker awareness, developing sickness and living style. Non-adherence to ART was high in the study area. Concerned bodies should work on identified barriers of adherence to improve the quality of service as well as adherence rate. Increasing awareness and belief of HIV patients towards ART is needed and health care providers should work strongly on those who miss their ART regimen.

Key words: Adherence, antiretroviral drugs (ART), barriers, HIV/AIDS, Nekemte referral hospital.

Abbreviation

ARVs,  Anti  Retro   Viral;   BSc,   Bachelor   of   Science; CCR5, Chemokines receptor type five; E.C, Ethiopian calendar; FI, Fusion Inhibitor; HAART, Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy; HIV/AIDS, Human immunodeficiency virus or Acquired immunodeficiency Syndrome; INSTIS, Integers Strand Transfer Inhibitor; NNRTIs, Non Nucleotide Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors; PCP, Pneumocystis Carnie Pneumonia; PIS = Protease Inhibitors; PLWH, People Living with HIV; PLWHA, People living with HIV/AIDS; SNNPR, South Nation Nationality and People Region.