Antiretroviral therapy in Zambia: do partners on ART enhance adherence?

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is essential to optimize HIV treatment outcomes. Among individuals on ART, targeted peer support has been found to support adherence. This study of Zambian heterosexual couples living with HIV examined whether partners would exert a positive influence on each other's adherence, and compared adherence between couples in which either one or both members were on ART.

Couples (n = 446 participants), in which either or both member were on ART were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months.

Most participants (64%, n = 263) were on ART; overall, uptake of ART increased to 74% at 12 months. At baseline, 76% reported near perfect adherence; at 6 and 12 months, 66% and 70% were adherent, respectively. A regression analysis indicated that the decline in adherence did not differ between those couples in which one or both partners were on ART [F (2, 624) = 0.37, p = .692]. Pairwise comparison indicated that adherence primarily decreased between baseline and 6 months (t = 2.72, p = .007), and was stable 6 to 12 months.

This study of couples in Zambia found adherence was not enhanced by having a partner on ART, and that adherence declined over time. Partners on ART may not necessarily provide support for adherence to each other. Partners may represent an untapped resource for optimizing adherence; results highlight the need for provider guidance and structured adherence interventions targeting partner adherence support.