Effects of tobacco use on non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive patients in South Africa

Abstract

This study aimed to estimate the relationship between tobacco use and non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in a South African sample. Participants were 1 963 HIV patients who attended a primary care clinic in Pretoria (female = 68.5%; black African = 99.5%; median age = 37.0 years; tobacco users only = 8.6%, problem drinkers only = 14.9%, and tobacco users and problem drinkers = 10.5%). In adjusted logistic regression analysis, tobacco use only was not significantly associated with non-adherence to ART. Alcohol use only (OR: 1.72; CI: 1.26, 2.36) and tobacco use and problem drinking (OR: 2.31; CI: 1.60, 3.33) were highly associated with non-adherence to ART.

Keywords:

• adherence
• antiretroviral therapy
• problem drinking
• South Africa
• tobacco use

Acknowledgement

Funding for this study was received from ABMRF, the Foundation for Alcohol Research and the Directorate Generale for Development Cooperation through the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR-UOS).

ORCID

Supa Pengpid http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7714-8869

Karl Peltzer http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5980-0876