Adherence to antiretroviral drug therapy by adult patients attending HIV/AIDS clinic at a Kenyan tertiary helath institution

Abstract

Objective: To determine antiretroviral drug adherence levels of HIV/AIDS in adult patients. Design: A cross sectional study. Setting: Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret, Kenya. Subjects: Three hundred and eighty four HIV/AIDS adult patients who attended HIV/AIDS clinic in MTRH for antiretroviral treatment and had been on treatment for at least three months as confirmed by clinicians. Results: Three hundred and eighty four respondents participated in this research; two third of whom were females (68%) and a third were males (32%). Fifty two per cent of these had attained secondary or post secondary education. The mean age was 36.1±8.5, years and ranged 18-63 years. While 93.5% of the participants adhered to clinic appointments, only 43.2% adhered to taking the drugs as per time schedule. Conclusion: Adherence to time of taking medications was low and could result in reduced efficacy.