Ahmed Yasin Mohammed^1,, Muktar Beshir Ahmed¹, Tomas Benti Tefera¹

Human Immune Virus now a day is one of the devastating illnesses witnessed worldwide. It becomes a prevalent disease and presents a global public health concern without a cure. Among East Africa countries, Ethiopia is one of which Human Immune Virus becomes major public health emergency. Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) services are important and effective in prevention and palliative treatment of the virus. Non adherence is the risk for the development of drug resistance and failurity of therapy. The objective of this study is to assess factors affecting ART adherence among People Living With Human immune virus. A facility based cross sectional study was conducted on 245 subjects on ART follow up at Bale Robe Hospital selected using systematic random sampling from March 18 to April 13/2013. A structured and pre- tested interviewer administered questionnaires were used for data collection. The item consists of socio demographic variables, psychosocial, Clinical, Behavioral factors and items measure level of ART adherence. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Frequency and percentages were calculated. The x2 (chi – square) test and P values determined and associations were assessed. P < 0.05 considered statistically significant association with ART adherence status. The rate ART dose adherence of the study subjects were 83.1%. The finding emphasize that important multiple psychosocial factors: patients disclosure status, types of social support, stigma, depression, social isolation and active substance use were significantly associated (P < 0.05) with adherence level. Additionally other barriers like being too busy and attitude towards the drug has been significantly associated (P < 0.05) with adherence. The adherence rate found in this study seems to be encouraging. However, focusing on strengthening psychosocial aspects affecting ART adherence behavior and appropriate monitoring of patients could potentially help them to maintain adherence and therefore improve the outcome.

ART, adherence, associated factors, HIV, ethiopia