Non-Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy and Factors Affecting Low Medication Adherence Among Incident HIV-Infected at Lerato Clinic in Germiston

Abstract

<i>Introduction</i>: Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the management of HIV/AIDS has made it possible to significantly reduce its incidence and its morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to identify factors affecting levels of non-adherence to HAART. <i>Methods</i>: The investigator conducted a cross-sectional study at Lerato Clinic in Bertha Qxowa Hospital in Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa from September 2019 to December 2019. Were included to participate, those being more than 18 years old, on HAART for at least three months, consenting to participate, and attending the clinic in that period. Non-adherence was defined as taking their medication ≤ 95% of the time. A threshold of non-adherence >5% was considered high, with P <0.05 statistically significant. <i>Results</i>: Of a total of 278 participants in the study, the average age was 41 ± 13 years with a minimum of 19 years and a maximum of 75 years, a male predominance of 56% (n ꞊ 156); 19% of patients showed adherence ≤ 95%, of which 13.31 (n=37) were men and 5.4% (n=15). High blood pressure, hyperuricemia, hyperglycemia, and LDL-hypercholesterolemia emerged as clinico-biological determinants and associated factors of non-adherence to HAART. People who often found HAART toxic/bad and who often cared for their partners/spouses/parents were at risk of non-adherence. Similarly, people who were busy doing other things and those who "often" cared for a parent were more likely to adhere to HAART. Systolic blood pressure (SBP), uric acid, blood sugar, and LDL cholesterol which showed higher values. <i>Conclusion</i>: Effective management of HIV/AIDS requires <5% non-adherence. At the end of the present study, the factors associated with non-adherence were individuals and cardiometabolic. All these observations affirmed the holistic and multidisciplinary nature of HIV/AIDS care.