Assessment of adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy and associated factors among people living with HIV at Debrebrihan Referral Hospital and Health Center, Northeast Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study

Figures & data

Figure 1 Reasons for nonadherence to ART among 422 respondents from the Debrebrihan Referral Hospital and Health Center, Northeast Ethiopia.

Notes: ***Being away from home, use of TCAM, or feeling better. Data collected between December 2011 and January 2012.
Abbreviations: ART, antiretroviral therapy; TCAM, traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine.

Table 1 Sociocultural characteristics of 422 respondents with HIV/AIDS

Variables	Frequency (n)	Percentage (%)
Disclosed HIV status to others
Yes	357	84.6
No	65	15.4
Emotional/practical support
Yes	267	63.3
No	155	36.7
Uses complementary treatment
Yes	291	69
No	131	31
Type of complementary treatment
Traditional	282	96.9
Conventional**	9	3.1
Attends religious place
Yes	411	97.4
No	11	2.6
Fasts
Yes	252	59.7
No	170	40.3
Believes in cure by prayer
Yes	206	48.8
No	216	51.2
Believes HIV is punishment from God for sin
Yes	160	37.9
No	262	62.1

Notes: All respondents were from the Debrebrihan Referral Hospital and Health Center, Northeast Ethiopia.

** Use of conventional medicine was separated from traditional complementary treatment because conventional medicine was mostly provided by the health facility. Data were collected between December 2011 and January 2012.

Abbreviation: n, number of respondents.

Table 2 Associations between sociocultural factors and adherence to HAART among 422 respondents with HIV/AIDS

Variables	Adhered to HAART (n)		COR (95% CI)
	Yes	No
Disclosed HIV status
Yes	357	14	1
No	65	5	2 (0.71, 5.88)
Something good happening after disclosure
Yes	302	13	1
No	41	1	0.57 (0.72, 4.45)
Something bad happening after disclosure
Yes	46	6	4.8 (1.61, 14.59)
No	267	8	1
Emotional/practical support
Yes	141	14	1
No	262	5	0.19 (0.07, 0.55)
Fully convinced of the need for ART
Yes	401	18	1
No	2	1	0.09 (0.08, 1.04)
Uses traditional/complementary treatment
Yes	274	17	0.25 (0.57, 1.1)
No	129	2	1
Fasts
Yes	239	13	1.49 (0.55, 3.99)
No	164	6	1
Believes HIV is cured with prayer
Yes	195	11	1
No	208	8	0.68 (0.27, 1.73)
Believes HIV is punishment or a result of sin
Yes	153	7	0.95 (0.37, 2.47)
No	250	12	1

Notes: Study participants were from Debrebrihan Referral Hospital and Health Center, Northeast Ethiopia. Data were collected between December 2011 and January 2012.

Abbreviations: HAART, highly active antiretroviral therapy; n, number of respondents; COR, corrected odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; ART, antiret-roviral therapy.

Table 3 Associations between sociodemographic and cultural factors for adherence to ART among 422 respondents with HIV/AIDS

Variables	Adhered to ART (n)		COR (95% CI)	AOR (95% CI)
	Yes	No
Disclosed HIV status
Yes	357	14	1	1
No	65	5	2 (0.71, 5.88)	0.93 (0.28, 3.0)
Something bad happening after disclosure
Yes	46	6	4.8 (1.61, 14.59)	3.2 (0.87, 2.13)
No	267	8	1	1
Emotional/practical support
Yes	141	14	1	1
No	262	5	0.19 (0.07, 0.55)	0.16 (0.05, 0.49)
Being fully convinced of the need for ART
Yes	401	18	1	1
No	2	1	0.09 (0.08, 1.04)	2.3 (0.89, 7.21)
Use of TCAM
Yes	274	17	4 (0.91, 17.58)	4.7 (1.06, 21.22)
No	129	2	1	1

Notes: All study participants were from the Debrebrihan Referral Hospital and Health Center, Northeast Ethiopia. Data were collected between December 2011 and January 2012.

Abbreviations: ART, antiretroviral therapy; n, number of respondents; COR, corrected odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; AOR, adjusted odds ratio; TCAM, traditional, complementary, and alternative medicine.