Introduction: For the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy, it is necessary to avoid adherence in patients on treatment. The Democratic Republic of Congo has little information on non adherence antiretroviral treatment and its predictors. We conducted this study to examine levels of non-compliance and explore associated factors among PLHIV receiving antiretroviral therapy in Goma.
Methods: In an analytical study, 264 HIV positive patients receiving first-line antiretroviral therapy were interviewed by HIV services in the city of Goma, using a semi-structural questionnaire.
Results: The prevalence of adherence was observed in 111 patients out of 153 PLHIV on ART, i,e, 72.5% of cases. Non-observers were recorded in 27.5% of cases.
The most common reasons for not taking antiretrovirals on schedule were: forgetting (80%), busy schedule (19%), and severity of illness (11%).
In relation to the socio-economic characteristics of the different predictors:
In multivariate analysis by binary logistic regression, non-compliance is significantly associated with the notion of miraculous healing belief (p-value = 0.001), with stigma on drug withdrawal (p-value = 0.000) and with cost. displacement (p-value = 0.007).
With respect to the clinical characteristics of the different predictors. In multivariate analysis by binary logistic regression, non-compliance was significantly associated with side effects with an OR: 0.630; 95% CI 1.050 - 2.594 and CD4 count at the start of treatment with OR: 1.198; 95% CI 1.029 - 2.370.
Conclusion: In the light of these results, the following conclusions can be drawn: the prevalence of non-compliance to ART is still high in Goma. Belief in the notion of a miraculous cure, in the stigma at drug withdrawal, the cost of travel, the presence of side effects of ARVs and the CD4 count at the start of treatment have been identified as determinants of non-adherence to ART in Goma.
Impact Factor
2022: 6.012
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