Knowledge and Attitude Towards Anti-Retroviral Therapy Adherence among HIV/AIDS patients at Consolata Hospital Nkubu, Meru County, Kenya.
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Abstract
Poor adherence to the management of HIV/AIDS continues to pose a challenge in sub-Saharan Africa. To achieve the 90:90:90 target by the year 2020, optimum suppression of HIV requires a high level of adherence to prescribed treatment, counselling and follow-up plans. The number of people living with HIV in Meru County is estimated to be 20700 but only14205 are on Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) with a viral suppression rate of 69%. There is still scarcity of information on factors influencing adherence in Meru County and more so at Consolata Hospital. The study aimed at assessing knowledge and attitude towards anti-retroviral therapy adherence among HIV/AIDs patients at Consolata Hospital Nkubu. A descriptive cross sectional research design was adopted and 312 participants attending Comprehensive Care Clinic selected using systematic random sampling technique. Qualitative and quantitative data was collected using structured questionnaire. It was then cleaned, coded and entered into statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 23. Analysis was then done using both descriptive and inferential statistics and presented in tables and charts. The results showed that the majority of the respondents 108 (34.6%) were aged between 39-48 years and those with college education were (45.2%). The level of education was found to have a slight but statistically significant effect on ART adherence (p=0.04). Males were found to be 5 times more likely to miss drugs than females (OR= 5.23, X² =16.14, p<0.001). There was a statistically significant positive relationship between knowledge of ART and adherence (R=.81, p<0.001). This indicates that adherence is dependent on knowledge on ART. A statistically significant positive relationship between attitude and adherence was found (R=.66, p<0.001). Privacy and confidentiality was also shown to influence adherence to ART. The study recommends use of innovative approaches to improve on knowledge and follow up of clients.
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