Level of adherence and associated factors among HIV-positive adolescents on antiretroviral therapy in Cameroon.
Afr J AIDS Res
; 19(4): 269-275, 2020 Dec.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33337976
ABSTRACT
Aim:
Globally, there were over 250 000 new HIV infections among adolescents in 2017, with a higher proportion of these in sub-Saharan Africa. In Cameroon, UNICEF estimated over 4 200 new HIV infections in adolescents in 2015; by 2016, there were over 40 000 adolescents who had HIV. Given that the number of adolescents living with HIV in Cameroon is on the increase, there is a need to better understand the factors influencing adherence to treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the factors associated with adherence among adolescents in Cameroon.Methods:
A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 460 HIV+ adolescents who were receiving antiretroviral therapy were sampled randomly from nine health facilities. Questionnaires and data extraction forms were used to collect data. Descriptive (frequencies and proportions) and inferential (chi-square and multivariate logistic regression) statistical analyses methods were used to analyse the data. Statistical significance was set at p = 0.05 and 95% confidence level.Results:
The level of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among the adolescents was 83%. Twelve out of 30 independent variables examined showed significant statistical association with adherence at the bivariate level. In the multivariable logistic regression analyses, however, only two variables significantly predicted adherence - experiencing side effects (AOR = 2.63; 95% CI = 1.14, 6.09; p = 0.02), and internalized stigma (AOR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.04, 6.04; p = 0.04).Conclusion:
Adherence to treatment among adolescents in Cameroon was found to be suboptimal. There is a need for more individualized, targeted medication counselling for adolescents and their guardians as well as strategies to reduce internalized stigma and improve adherence to antiretroviral treatment.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Infecções por HIV
/
Antirretrovirais
/
Adesão à Medicação
Tipo de estudo:
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País/Região como assunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2020
Tipo de documento:
Article