Factors affecting adherence to antiretroviral treatment among patients living with HIV/AIDS, in Bale zone, south eastern Ethiopia

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is of critical importance because even minor deviations from the prescribed regimen can result in viral resistance. Multiple factors influence adherence among people living with human immune virus. But at present little is known about the patient’s experience and adherence when taking such complex regimens. The major aim of the study was to assess factors associated with antiretroviral treatment adherence among people living with human immune virus A facility based cross-sectional study design was used, with systematic sampling technique on 300 adult patients on antiretroviral therapy. Factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral drugs were analyzed with bivariate and multivariate logistic regression. A total of 300 patients on antiretroviral therapy involved in this research and despite requirement of complete or near complete adherence to antiretroviral therapy only 205(68.3%) were found to be adherent. The bivariate and multivariate logistic regression showed that factors like mild depression (AOR=3.24) 95% CI(2.04-8.67), moderate depression (AOR=3.06) 95%CI(1.61-5.67), alcohol abuse (COR=2.562) p=0.049, current khat chewing (COR=2.85) p=0.025, disclosure status (COR=0.426) p=0.004, presence of opportunistic infection (AOR=5.44) 95%CI(1.833-16.10), and presence of comorbid disease (COR=4.256) p=0.002 showed association to adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Generally about three out ten patients on antiretroviral therapy were found to be non-adherent to antiretroviral regimen in Bale zone. Depression and the presence of opportunistic infection are adversely linked to adherence status of these patients.