Factors which affect optimal adherence to antiretroviral medications

• Main Author: Usman, Samuel
• Other Authors: Munro, G. D.
• Language: en_ZA
• Published: Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch 2010
• Subjects: HIV/AIDS; Adherence to treatment; Antiretroviral treatment; Dissertations > Industrial psychology; Theses > Industrial psychology; Assignments > Industrial psychology; Dissertations > HIV/AIDS management; Theses > HIV/AIDS management; Assignments > HIV/AIDS management
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/4181

Thesis (MPhil (Industrial Psychology. Africa Centre for HIV/AIDS Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. === ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The advent of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has bought hope and reprieve in a previously hopeless situation where there was no available drug to combat the virus with the result that AIDS deaths from chronic, untreated HIV infection became the major cause of morbidity and mortality especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the disease burden is highest. Since March 19, 1987, when the FDA approved Zidovudine for the treatment of AIDS, there has been great improvement in the prognosis and quality of life of HIV infected persons especially in sub- Saharan countries like Nigeria where the burden of HIV disease is high. Even though the treatment of HIV looked promising to all HIV sufferers, there were strict requirements for taking the ARVs, that meant patients had to be able to take the medication more than 95% of the prescribed time. The requirements also involved strict dietary restrictions that further made adherence to these medications very difficult indeed. In addition, the potential for side effects of the medications and its requirement for life-style modifications like abstinence from excess alcohol made sticking to the required regimen very cumbersome and rather patient unfriendly. Therefore, as the use of ARVs became more popular and effective, so did the problem of nonadherence continue to fester and deteriorate even further. Therefore, the problem of lack of optimum adherence to ARVs is one that potentially threatens all the gains of the discovery and use of potent, life-saving ARVs. Hence, there is now a need to look at how best to improve adherence to ARVs in the most innovative, cost-effective and patient-friendly manner. This study argues for the use of simple, locally-driven adherence strategies that overcome the low literacy and excessive alcoholism that are major factors preventing optimal adherence to ARVs amongst patients. === AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die intrede van anti-retrovirale behandeling het hoop en genade gebring aan ‘n voorheen hopelose situasie waar daar geen behandeling beskikbaar was om die virus te beveg nie, wat daartoe gelei het dat VIGS, as gevolg van MIV-infeksie wat nie behandel is nie, die grootste oorsaak van sterftes in veral Sub-Sahara Afrika is. Sedert 19 Maart 1987, wanneer Zidovudine goedgekeur is vir die behandeling van VIGS, is daar ‘n groot verbetering in die prognose en kwaliteit van lewe van MIV-geinfekteerde mense, veral in Sub-Sahara lande soos Nigerië waar die voorkoms van MIV hoog is. Hoewel de behandeling van MIV vir alle MIV-lyers belowend gelyk het, was daar streng vereistes vir die neem van anti-retrovirale behandeling. Daar was ook streng dieetkundige beperkinge wat die getrouheid tot die behandeling bemoeilik het. Die moontlike newe-effekte van die behandeling en nodige leefstyl veranderinge, soos byvoorbeeld weerhouding van oormatige alkohol gebruik, maak die behandeling redelik pasiënt onvriendelik. Soos die anti-retrovirale behandeling meer gewild en effektief geraak het, het die probleem van ongetrouheid ook toegeneem. Die probleem rondom ongetrouheid tot behandeling bedreig alles wat deur die behandeling gebied kan word. Daar is nou ‘n behoefte daaraan om getrouheid tot anti-retrovirale behandeling te bevorder in die mees innoverende, koste-effektiewe en pasiënt vriendelike manier. Die studie beveel eenvoudige, plaaslik gedrewe getrouheid-strategieë aan wat optimale getrouheid aan behandeling sal verseker.