Antiretroviral therapy adherence and its determinant factors among people living with HIV/AIDS: a case study in Iran

Abstract

Abstract Objectives This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on 122 Iranian people living with HIV (PWHIV), who referred to a behavioral diseases counseling center in 2018. The AIDS Clinical Trial Group (ACTG) questionnaire was used to collect the required data. The study aimed to determine the level of medication adherence and its determinants in PWHIV. Results About 75.4% (confidence interval 67.2%–82.8%) of the samples had a good combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) adherence and 74.6% (n = 91) of them were sure about the positive effects of medications on their health. Patients reported that most important reasons for medication non-adherence included forgetfulness, high drug dosage, lack of knowledge about ART value, and transportation problems.

Keywords

• ART adherence
• HIV/AIDS
• Determinant factors