Patient Preference and Adherence (Oct 2018)

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV/AIDS patients in the context of early treatment initiation in Vietnam

  • Mai HT,
  • Le GM,
  • Tran BX,
  • Do HN,
  • Latkin CA,
  • Nguyen LT,
  • Thai TPT,
  • Le HT,
  • Ngo AT,
  • Nguyen CT,
  • Ho CSH,
  • Ho RCM

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 12
pp. 2131 – 2137

Abstract

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Hue Thi Mai,1 Giang Minh Le,1,2 Bach Xuan Tran,1,3,4 Ha Ngoc Do,5 Carl A Latkin,3 Luong Thanh Nguyen,6 Thao Phuong Thi Thai,7,8 Huong Thi Le,9 Anh Toan Ngo,10 Cuong Tat Nguyen,11 Cyrus SH Ho,12 Roger CM Ho13 1Institute for Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 2Center for Research and Training on HIV/AIDS (CREATA), Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; 3Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA; 4Vietnam Young Physician Association, Hanoi, Vietnam; 5Youth Research Institute, Vietnam (YRI)-Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, Hanoi, Vietnam; 6Center of Excellence in Evidence-based Medicine, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 7Department of General Planning, Friendship Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; 8Department of Cardiology, Friendship Hospital, Hanoi, Vietnam; 9Vietnam Administration of HIV/AIDS Control, Hanoi, Vietnam; 10National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hanoi, Vietnam; 11Institute for Global Health Innovations, Duy Tan University, Da Nang, Vietnam; 12Department of Psychological Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore; 13Department of Psychological Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore Purpose: This study aimed to assess the antiretroviral therapy (ART) compliance among patients with HIV/AIDS and its associated factors in the context of universal ART initiation in Vietnam. Patients and methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted in five ART clinics located in three provinces, such as Hanoi, Thanh Hoa, and Lao Cai, from July to September 2017. Overall, adherence to ART in the last month was measured using a 100-point Visual Analog Scale (VAS). Besides, information about forgetting doses in the last 4 days and delaying taking pills in the last 7 days was also reported. Results: Among 482 patients, the suboptimal adherence rate was 54.5%. Noncurrent smoking (coefficient =4.19, 95% CI 0.42–7.97), higher baseline CD4 count (coefficient =4.35, 95% CI 0.58–8.13), and no traveling difficulties (coefficient =6.17, 95% CI 2.27–10.06) were predictors of higher VAS adherence score. Suboptimal adherence was associated with mountainous residence (OR =5.34, 95% CI 2.81–10.16). Female respondents were less likely to delay taking pills in the last 7 days (OR =0.19, 95% CI 0.07–0.52). Conclusion: Our study embraced early ART initiation in Vietnam; however, this approach should be parallel with appropriate resource allocation and service delivery. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, antiretroviral therapy, ART adherence, Visual Analog Scale, VAS

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