Self-initiation of antiretroviral therapy in the developing world: the involvement of private pharmacies in an HIV program

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic characteristics of the study patients, N = 480

Characteristic	N (%)
	MLH, N = 408	MNH, N = 72
Gender
M	150 (37)	24 (33)
F	258 (63)	48 (67)
Age (years)
15–25	46 (11.3)	8 (11.1)
26–35	193 (47.3)	29 (40.3)
36–45	114 (27.9)	25 (34.7)
46–55	32 (7.8)	9 (12.5)
56+	23 (5.7)	1 (1.4)
Education level
No formal school	25 (6.1)	1 (1.4)
Primary school	310 (76)	44 (61.1)
Secondary school	59 (14.5)	17 (23.7)
Post secondary school (certificate)	11 (2.7)	5 (6.9)
College education (diploma)	3 (0.7)	5 (6.9)
Occupation
Not employed	116 (28.5)	16 (22.2)
Self employed	223 (54.7)	32 (44.4)
Employed	69 (16.8)	24 (33.3)

Abbreviations: F, female; M, male; MLH, Mwananyamamala HIV Clinic; MNH, Muhimbili HIV Clinic.

Table 2 Proportion of patients in relation to previous drug use and ARV drug level obtained in patients who consented to give a blood sample (N = 450)

	% of patients (N)	Obtained NVP plasma concentrations, μg/mL
Stated to have acquired ARV previously from HIV clinics	2.7 (12)	<0.05
Stated to have not used ARV, despite having NVP in their blood samples	10 (45)	0.25–4.40
Total	12.7 (67)

Abbreviations: ARV, antiretoviral; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; NVP, nevirapine.