Developing appropriate strategies to sustain optimal medication adherence among the increasing number of HIV-positive patients taking antiretroviral therapy (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa is a major challenge. The objective of this study was to determine patient, regimen, disease, patient-provider, and healthcare-related factors associated with adherence with ART over a one-year period, and assess the impact of adherence on treatment outcomes. We performed a prospective, observational study among 246 patients who were initiated on ART in Ethiopia. Of 172 who completed follow-up, 130 (75.6%) had ≥ 95% adherence. In the multivariate analyses, a higher baseline BMI (OR, 1.2; 95% CI 1.0, 1.4) and use of reminder devices (OR, 9.1; 95% CI 2.0, 41.6) remained positively associated with adherence, while a higher HIV symptom and adverse drug reaction distress score was an independent negative predictor of adherence (OR, 0.90; 95% CI 0.9, 1.0) CD4 count increase was significantly higher in the adherent patients compared to non-adherent patients at 12 months (159 cells/µL [interquartile range (IQR), 72–324 cells/µL] vs. 132 cells/µL [IQR, 43–190 cells/µL]; p = 0.026). Our findings indicate that interventions aimed at improving adherence and thereby treatment outcomes in patients initiated on ART should promote the use of reminder devices, and monitor HIV symptoms and adverse reaction distress and nutritional status.

Item Type:	Refereed Article
Keywords:	antiretroviral therapy, highly active, medication adherence, HIV, treatment outcomes, Ethiopia
Research Division:	Biomedical and Clinical Sciences
Research Group:	Pharmacology and pharmaceutical sciences
Research Field:	Clinical pharmacy and pharmacy practice
Objective Division:	Health
Objective Group:	Other health
Objective Field:	Other health not elsewhere classified
UTAS Author:	Bezabhe, WM (Dr Woldesellassie Bezabhe)
UTAS Author:	Chalmers, L (Dr Leanne Chalmers)
UTAS Author:	Bereznicki, LR (Professor Luke Bereznicki)
UTAS Author:	Gee, P (Mr Peter Gee)
UTAS Author:	Peterson, GM (Professor Gregory Peterson)
ID Code:	106756
Year Published:	2016
Web of Science® Times Cited:	8
Deposited By:	Pharmacy
Deposited On:	2016-02-19
Last Modified:	2017-11-03
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