Adherence to the management of Human Immunodeficiency Virus
and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome is beyond infected persons consistently
and accurately taking fixed-dose antiretroviral therapy. This study compared
the gender disparity in the self-reported adherence, virologic outcome and
factors associated with HIV/AIDS management among HIV-positive adults attending
a tertiary hospital in Rivers State, Nigeria.
This concurrent nested mixed-methods approach employed a
hospital-based comparative cross-sectional study for the quantitative aspect,
and a grounded theory methodology for the qualitative component was conducted
at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between September and
November 2020. Data from the quantitative and qualitative components were
collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and focus
group discussion guide to recruit participants through systematic sampling and
purposive sampling techniques, then analyzed using Statistical Product and
Service Solutions version 25 and ATLAS. Ti version 12, respectively.
A total of 1600 participants (800 males and 800 females) and
24 discussants (12 males and 12 females) were recruited for the quantitative
and qualitative aspects of the study, respectively. The mean and standard
deviation: Age; male (44.53±10.50) and female (40.58±9.34); self-reported
adherence; male (98.7±6.4), female (97.3±10.0), and the virologic suppression;
male (89.5%), female (89.6%). The significant predictors of self-reported
adherence: Male gender; religion (aOR=0.076, 95%=0.024-0.239, p<0.001),
level of education (aOR=0.451, 95% CI=0.213-0.955, p=0.038), and not paying for
HIV services (aOR=4.105, 95% CI=1.712-9.792, p<0.001. The only significant
predictor of virologic outcome: Female gender; treatment supporter (aOR=0.382,
95% CI=0.206-0.707, p=0.002). The association between self-reported adherence
and virologic outcome was not significant: male (89.7%, χ2=0.487, p=0.485),
female (90%, χ2=1.227, p=0.268). The focus group discussion reported that
socio-cultural, socioeconomic and psychosocial challenges negatively influenced
treatment adherence.
The identified factors significantly influenced the gender
difference in self-reported adherence as opposed to the virologic outcome.
Hence, responsible organizations should develop measures to improve virologic
outcomes.
Author(s) Details
Luke, Anwuri
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of
Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Nigeria.
Owhonda, Golden
Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, College of
Medical Sciences, Rivers State University, Nigeria.
Please see the book here :- https://doi.org/10.9734/bpi/mono/978-93-88417-46-4
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