Abstract:
Although anti retroviral therapy (ART) is the single most important management of
HIV infection, success in decreasing viral load depends on adherence to a strict
regimen that requires taking the prescribed drugs daily at the specified times.
Failure to daily intake of Anti Retrovirals (ARV) not only prevents treatment failure
but may also lead to viral development of resistance to the drugs. The fact that
HIV is mainly sexually transmitted means that it is associated with socially
unaccepted practices such as premarital and extramarital as well as multiple sexual
partners. Fear of such stigma related to these practices may thus prevent HIV
status disclosure and deny the patient social support that may be important in
management of the disease in general and adherence to ART in particular. This
study was carried out in a three month period among 89 HIV positive patients
attending Jomo Kenyatta University Hospital’ comprehensive care clinic (CCC). A
questionnaire was administered to the patients to investigate their knowledge
regarding adherence and determine any association between disclosure of HIV and
adherence. Their socio-demographic characteristics were also documented and
related to adherence levels. The results indicate that although patients were
aware of the importance of taking their medications on time, the adherence rate
of 76% is below the recommended 95% optimum required for viral suppression to
undetectable levels. Those that had disclosed their status were more likely to be
adherent than those that had not as indicated by a statistical correlation between
disclosure adherence (P > 0.9). This study recommends that psychosocial support
of HIV positive patients should emphasize disclosure as a strategy for increasing
adherence to the required optimum levels.
