Access to antiretroviral therapy among HIV/AIDS patients in Chiang Mai province, Thailand

Figures & data

Table 1 Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of HIV/AIDS patients

Characteristics	n	%
Sample size	380	100
Age
20–24 years	6	1.6
25–29 years	9	2.4
30–34 years	23	6.1
35–39 years	91	23.9
40–44 years	130	34.2
45–49 years	121	31.8
Mean (years)	41.2
SD (years)	5.6
Sex
Male	150	39.4
Female	230	60.6
Residential area
Urban	207	54.5
Rural	173	45.5
Marital status
Single	68	17.9
Married	211	55.5
Widow	87	22.9
Divorced	14	3.7
Education level
6-year elementary (P6) or less	263	69.2
Occupation
Agriculture; unskilled	287	75.5
Entrepreneur; students	47	12.4
Factory; skilled; government	22	5.8
Unemployed	24	6.3
Health insurance
UCS	333	87.6
SSS	38	10.0
CSMBS	4	1.1
NAPHA extension; research program	5	1.3

Abbreviations: AIDS, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome; CSMBS, Civil Servant Medical Benefit Scheme; HIV, human immunodeficiency virus; NAPHA, National Access to Antiretroviral Programs for People living with HIV/AIDS; SD, standard deviation; SSS, Social Security Scheme; UCS, Universal Coverage Scheme.

Table 2 Access to ART according to availability, affordability, and acceptability, by socioeconomic status and overall

	Total	Sex		Residential area		Income quintiles
		Male	Female	Urban	Rural	1st (poorest)	5th (richest)
Sample size (n)	380	150	230	207	173	71	71
(%)	100.0	39.4	60.6	54.5	45.5	18.7	18.7
Availability
Travel distance (mean, km)	11.0	10.9	11.0	10.9	11.1	9.6**	12.3
Travel time (mean, minutes)	27.5	26.6	28.0	27.5	27.3	27.5	27.9
Waiting time (mean, minutes)	134.3	136.1	133.1	125.9**	144.3	126.8	130.9
Inadequacy of health personnel (% agree)	92.6	92.0	93.0	92.3	93.1	93.0	90.1
Time periods and day of service are appropriate (% agree)	85.3	84.0	86.1	88.4	81.5	78.9	85.9
Affordability
Transportation costs (mean, baht/year)	652.1	702.6	619.2	622.0	688.2	616.9	758.6
Food costs (mean, baht/year)	334.8	326.9	339.9	326.7	344.5	400.1	339.6
Waiting time costs (mean, baht/year)	646.1	665.8	633.2	624.6	671.7	628.9	633.5
Sources of income spent for ART (%)
Working	92.4	91.3	93.0	92.3	92.5	94.4*	85.9
Saving	21.6	18.0	23.9	20.8	22.5	22.5	23.9
Financial support from relatives	10.8	11.3	10.4	10.6	11.0	22.5*	11.3
Borrowing	5.8	4.7	6.5	5.8	5.8	12.7	5.6
Acceptability
Patient information kept confidential (% agree)	85.0	84.7	85.2	88.9**	80.3	74.6	85.9
Physicians gave the patients opportunities to ask questions (% agree)	77.6	72.7*	80.9	82.1*	72.3	69.0*	81.7
Listening for problems related to ARV drugs taking (% agree)	95.5	96.0	95.2	96.1	94.8	87.3	94.4
Possible side effects of the ARV drugs and solutions given (% agree)	97.4	98.7	96.5	98.1	96.5	94.4	97.2
Satisfaction in service (% “very satisfied” or “satisfied”)	68.4	69.3	67.8	71.5	64.7	63.4**	81.7

Notes:

* P < 0.10;

** P < 0.05.

Abbreviations: ART, antiretroviral therapy; ARV drugs, antiretroviral drugs.

Table 3 Major obstacles in access to antiretroviral therapy

Major obstacles	Total	Sex		Residential area		Income quintiles
		Male	Female	Urban	Rural	1st (poorest)	5th (richest)
Travel, food, and miscellaneous cost (% agree)	36.3	35.3	37.0	30.9**	42.8	47.9*	32.4
Too long waiting time (% agree)	33.2	32.0	33.9	36.2	29.5	32.4	36.6
Problem of taking leave from work (% agree)	17.4	19.3	16.1	11.1***	24.9	18.3	12.7
Difficulty in travelling to receive treatment (% agree)	5.3	5.3	5.2	2.4**	8.7	15.5**	5.6
Income foregone from working (% agree)	2.6	2.7	2.6	3.9*	1.2	5.6**	0.0
Discrimination perception (% agree)	2.6	2.0	3.0	2.9	2.3	1.4	2.8

Notes:

* P < 0.10;

** P < 0.05;

*** P < 0.01.