Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 1, 2026

An Affordable HIV-1 Drug Resistance Monitoring Method for Resource Limited Settings
Published on: March 30, 2014
Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Children Living with HIV in South India
K Mehta1, M L Ekstrand2,3, E Heylen2
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, St. John's Medical College Hospital, Sarjapur Road, Bangalore, 560034, India.
Abstract:
Adherence to ART, fundamental to treatment success, has been poorly studied in India. Caregivers of children attending HIV clinics in southern India were interviewed using structured questionnaires. Adherence was assessed using a visual analogue scale representing past-month adherence and treatment interruptions >48 h during the past 3 months. Clinical features, correlates of adherence and HIV-1 viral-load were documented. Based on caregiver reports, 90.9 % of the children were optimally adherent. In multivariable analysis, experiencing ART-related adverse effects was significantly associated with suboptimal adherence (p = 0.01). The proportion of children who experienced virological failure was 16.5 %. Virological failure was not linked to suboptimal adherence. Factors influencing virological failure included running out of medications (p = 0.002) and the child refusing to take medications (p = 0.01). Inclusion of drugs with better safety profiles and improved access to care could further enhance outcomes.
Related Concept Videos
Retrovirus Life Cycles
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion
Retroviruses
Sexually Transmitted Infections
Immunodeficiency Diseases
There are three main causes of immunodeficiency...
Subviral Agents

