Background: Higher level of antiretroviral adherence is associated with improved virological, immunological and clinical outcomes. Despite the availability of few studies in sub Saharan Africa the factors for poor adherence are diverse.
Objective: To determine adherence factors for antiretroviral treatment in Hawassa University teaching hospital in southern Ethiopia.
Patients and methods: A cross sectional study was undertaken on total of 510 AIDS patients seen over one month period Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and analysis was done using SPSS 15.0.
Results: Out of interviewed patients 88.2% of them had > or = 95% and 97.1% of them had > or =80% antiretroviral adherence rate by self report over one month period. The major reasons for missing drugs in 79.8% were forgetting to take drug, gastrointestinal symptoms, give priority for praying, being hopeless and inadequate adherence counseling Significant predictors of poor adherence were lower level of knowledge about adherence, absence of job and 'Sidamnigna' as primary language. It is also observed that trend of adherence decreased as level of education decrease.
Conclusions: Adherence rate found in this study is higher than many developed and developing countries and equivalent to other studies done in Ethiopia. Those who speak local language, jobless and having low education level may require intensive counseling to optimize their adherence.