FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH ADHERENCE TO ART AMONG ADOLESCENTS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS ATTENDING NDEJJE HEALTH CENTRE IV, WAKISO DISTRICT. A DESCRIPTIVE CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

IRENE NANKINGA

doi:10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i9.422

Authors

IRENE NANKINGA Medicare Health Professional’s College

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51168/sjhrafrica.v4i9.422

Keywords:

Antiretroviral therapy, HIV, HIV Infected Adolescents, adherence to ART

Abstract

Background:
This was based on study-specific objectives that included; assessing the individual factors, drug-related and healthcare-related factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral treatment among adolescents attending Ndejje Health Centre IV, Wakiso District.
Methodology:
The study used a descriptive cross-sectional design where a sample of 100 respondents who were adolescents between 10 and 25 on antiretroviral treatment was used. Stratified and simple random sampling techniques were used to select the respondents and data was collected using self-administered questionnaires.
Results:
The level of adherence to antiretroviral treatment was low at 33%. This was far lower than the national target of 90%. This was attributed to individual, drug, and healthcare factors. Individual factors were; gender, age, marital status, Education, place of residence, family size, and religion. Drug-related factors included; having all the drugs they were supposed to take, challenges faced with the drugs, Frequency of taking ARV pills in a day, challenges faced when taking ARVs, and accessibility to ARV drugs. Health-related factors were; getting routine education, having a nearby healthcare facility to pick up the drugs, Distance between the health facility and respondents’ home, and availability of ARV on appointment day.
Conclusion:
The level of adherence to antiretroviral treatment was low. This was attributed to missing taking drugs due to stigma, drug stockouts, failure to get routine education about ART, distance to the health facility, the inadequacy of information given, and long waiting times.
Recommendations:
The researcher recommends that; health education through counseling should be emphasized, drug restocking should be regular, use reminders, facilitate patients with transport fares, and prompt at- tendance to them when they come for drug refills.