Patient-Reported Experiences of Medication Adherence at a Community-Based HIV Clinic, Ghana

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• HIV/AIDS Research
• Behavioral Science

Background:

• Limited data exists on medication adherence experiences in Ghanaian community-based clinics.
• Antiretroviral medication adherence is crucial for managing HIV/AIDS.
• Understanding factors influencing adherence is vital for treatment success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate antiretroviral medication adherence among people living with HIV (PLHIV) at a community-based clinic in Ghana.
• To identify psychosocial factors associated with medication adherence in this population.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 349 PLHIV.
• Data collected via questionnaires on medication adherence, doctor-patient communication, HIV stigma, self-efficacy, social support, and spirituality.
• Linear Regression analysis used to determine associations.

Main Results:

• Positive associations found between medication adherence and doctor-patient communication (β=.38, P<.001) and social support (β=.46, P<.001).
• Negative associations found between medication adherence and HIV stigma (β=-.16, P<.01), spirituality (β=-.22, P<.05), and general self-efficacy (β=-.14, P<.01).

Conclusions:

• Enhancing doctor-patient communication and social support are key to improving medication adherence.
• Interventions should also focus on reducing HIV stigma, and addressing spirituality and self-efficacy concerns.
• Targeted educational programs are needed for PLHIV in Ghana to optimize treatment outcomes.