Evaluating the relationship between adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) and social and clinical characteristics in Chinese patients with HIV

ABSTRACT

This study investigated the adherence rate of Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) in patients with HIV infection in China. The research also examined the adherence rate related to demographic and clinical characteristics with these patients. A total of 516 patients with HIV infection were enrolled from the Wuhan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Patients reported their one-month HAART adherence rate, as well as their demographic and clinical characteristics. Using the ≥95% HAART one-month adherence rate, the patients were divided into an adherence group and a non-adherence group. The two groups were compared to identify differences. Compared to the adherence group (92.2%), the non-adherence patients (7.8%) experienced greater perceived stigma as measured by Berger Stigma Scale, and tended to have more homosexual sexual partners. Logistic regression analyses revealed that having less confidence in HAART treatment (p = 0.04, OR = 0.2, 95% CI = 0.03–0.9) and more homosexual sex partners (p = 0.049, OR = 1.5, 95% CI = 1.0–2.3) were independently associated with HAART non-adherence. More attention should be paid to patients with HIV infection who did not adherence to HAART treatment. Regular screening and psychological and social support should be considered as an intervention with non-adherence patients living with HIV.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy
• adherence
• China
• cross-sectional study

Acknowledgements

Wuhan University had no role in the study design, generating or interpreting the results and publication of the study.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by Wuhan University, Independent Research Project Funding for Young Teachers [grant number 2042016kf0030].