FACTORS INFLUENCING MEDICATION ADHERENCE AMONG YOUNG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

The global effort to address HIV/AIDS prevalence rest with a holistic intervention that promotes adherence and reduces the sociocultural factors limiting treatment adherence. This study assessed the predictors of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence among Young People Living with HIV (YPLHIV) in Niger State, Nigeria. The study was a cross-sectional survey utilizing a 43-item validated questionnaire to collect information on HIV medication adherence among 208 young people living with HIV currently enrolled in four facilities providing free comprehensive HIV care and treatment services in Niger State Nigeria. Univariate, bivariate and multivariate analyses were conducted at p=0.05 significance level. The age of participants ranged from 18 to 24 years with a mean age of 21.5 ± 1.92 years. Participants had been on antiretroviral (ARV) drugs for a period ranging between one to 14 years. The overall adherence rate in the study was 20% and was unevenly distributed across the four sites. In bivariate analysis, factors associated with ART medication adherence include educational attainment, religion and knowledge of medication adherence practices. Participants with higher education of at least a secondary school certificate were significantly more likely to adhere to ART (100%) than the lowly educated persons (0%), (p <0.0001). Similarly, other significant correlates of adherence at the bivariate level included knowledge of medication adherence (p <0.0001) and religion (p=0.038). Medication adherence is sub-optimal among Young People Living with HIV in Niger State and this study recommends holistic youth-friendly health literacy interventions programs to improve adherence to antiretroviral therapy among this population.