SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION AND CHALLENGES OF ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY NON-ADHERENCE AMONG INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN GONDAR TOWN HEALTH CENTER, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Authors

  • KELEMU FENTA GEBEYEHU Department of Sociology, School of Sociology and Social Work, College of Social Sciences and the Humanities, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia.

Keywords:

HIV/AIDS non-adherence, Antiretroviral therapy, Socio-economic challenges

Abstract

Introduction: The epidemic of HIV/AIDS is affecting individual, and community lives at different levels. To encounter such challenge HIV-positive, individuals are taking ART drugs, but they often faced different challenge for taking the drug.

Objective: The main objective of this study is to investigate the major socio-economic situations challenges of ART non-adherence among HIV/AIDS positives in Gondar town health center.

Methods: To do so, I have conducted a cross-sectional study with mixed-method research that is both quantitative and qualitative methods. More specifically, I have employed questionnaires, focus group discussion and in-depth interview to collect the actual data from respondents.

Results: Based on the information gathered from respondents’ majority of them are females (78%) whose age lies between 39 and 49, and socioeconomically, their major occupation is daily laborer and unemployed. As to the major challenges of taking ART drug personal, socio-economic situation that is being poor, lack of food, family-level factors, shortage of professional counseling services, and others are responsible.

Conclusion: ART non-adherence is associated with the socio-economic condition of patients’ personal, family, and community-level challenges.

References

UNAIDS. Progress in Scaling up Access to HIV Treatment in Low and Middle Income Countries. Geneva, Switzerland: UNAIDS; 2006.

UNAIDS. AIDS Epidemic Update. Geneva: UNAIDS World Health Organization; 2005.

Heran A. Challenges and Opportunities of Anti Retroviral Users at Zewditu Memorial Hospital; 2008.

Panos. Global AIDA Program. Antiretroviral Drugs for all; Obstacles to Access to HIV/AIDS Treatment, Global AIDA Program. Antiretroviral Drugs for all; Obstacles to Access to HIV/AIDS Treatment. Nepal: Panos Publishing Center; 2006.

World Health Organization. Adherence to HIV Treatment. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2004.

Taiwo MO, Bickersteth FT. Association between psychological wellbeing and antiretroviral therapy adherence in North-Central, Nigeria. Am J Appl Psychol 2017;5:18-24.

Paterson D. Adherence to protease inhibitor therapy and outcomes in patients with HIV infection. Ann Intern Med 2000;133:21-30.

Denscombe M. The Good Research Guide. For Small Scale Social Research Projects. 3rd ed. Maidenhead: Open University Press; 2007.

Creswell JW. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method Approaches. 2nd ed. California: Sage Publication, Inc.; 2009.

Anthony N. Factors that Influence Non-adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV and AIDS Patients in Central Province. Kenya: Thesis Paper; 2009.

Mohammed AY, Ahmed MB, Tefera TB. Assessment of factors affecting art adherence among people living with human immune virus in bale robe hospital, South East Ethiopia. Am J Public Health Res 2015;3:60-7.

Castro A. Adherence to ART Merging the Clinical and Social Courses of AIDS. PLoS Med 2005;2:e338.

Alice S. Barriers to Antiretroviral Adherence for Patients living with HIV Infection and AIDs in Uganda. Uganda: World Health Organization; 2003.

World Health Organization. Adherence to HIV Treatment. Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2000.

Published

20-09-2019

How to Cite

KELEMU FENTA GEBEYEHU. (2019). SOCIO-ECONOMIC SITUATION AND CHALLENGES OF ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY NON-ADHERENCE AMONG INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN GONDAR TOWN HEALTH CENTER, NORTHWEST ETHIOPIA. Innovare Journal of Social Sciences, 7(5), 1–4. Retrieved from https://mail.innovareacademics.in/journals/index.php/ijss/article/view/2302

Issue

Section

Original Article(s)