International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-780210122020031521972197ENDepartment of Community Medicine, SDMCMS&H, Sattur, Dharwad, KarnatakaDepartment of Community Medicine, SDMCMS&H, Sattur, Dharwad, KarnatakaDepartment of Community Medicine, SDMCMS&H, Sattur, Dharwad, Karnataka20200315<p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Background</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Antiretroviral therapy (ART) significantly delays the progression from HIV to AIDS. Adherence to ART is the second strongest predictor of progression to AIDS and death, after CD4<br />count. A very high level of adherence (≥95%) is required for ART to be effective on a long term and<br />to prevent the emergence of resistant viral strains and prevent comorbidities. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Methods</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">A case series<br />study was undertaken at an ART center for a period of 6 months. Non‑probability purposive sampling<br />was adapted to select HIV‑positive subjects aged &gt;15 years on ART for more than 6 months.<br />A predesigned semi‑structured questionnaire was used to obtain the data. Treatment compliance<br />was assessed by self‑reported 1‑week recall method. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Results</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">A total of 536 HIV‑positive people<br />were interviewed, among which 315 (58.8%) of them were males and 214 (39.9%) were females.<br />Nearly two third of the participants (359, 67.0%) reported ≥95% adherence to treatment. Personal<br />commitments (51, 28.8%) and working time inconvenience (42, 23.7%) were the common reasons<br />for less adherence. On bivariate analysis, married people (OR: 1.586, CI: 1.097‑2.292), participants<br />residing in rural area (OR: 1.628, CI: 1.130‑2.345), participants not having side effects of drugs (OR:<br />5.324, CI: 3.491‑8.181), participants equipped with better knowledge about ART (OR: 2.019, CI:<br />1.377‑2.961), and participants having support of friends and family members (OR: 1.612, CI:<br />1.019‑2.540) showed a higher level of adherence to ART. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Conclusions</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Demographic factors such<br />as marital status, residing in rural area, and other personal factors like having good knowledge about<br />ART, without side effects to drugs, and having support of friends and family members were found to<br />show a high level of adherence to ART.<br /></span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0" style="color: #00652e;"><strong>Keywords</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle3">Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, adherence, antiretroviral therapy, human immunodeficiency virus</span></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/2197http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/2197/717717996