Abstract:

The clinical efficacy of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in suppressing the HIV and improving survival rates for those living with HIV has been well-documented. However, despite the efficacy and the improvement in prognosis of those living with HIV/AIDS, a large proportion of individuals on ART do not achieve adequate biological suppression. In order to explore some of the socio economic factors that influence adherence, a cross-sectional study was conducted among PLHIV receiving care and treatment in University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria. Participants were randomly selected from those who had been using ARV for not less than six months prior to the study. A structured questionnaire with 78 items was administered to 548 participants who met the inclusion criteria. The results revealed that people living with HIV and AIDS who possess no education or pre-secondary education would report significantly good adherence compared to those that possess post-secondary education (χ 2= 23.448: P < 0.05). The research also revealed that number of daily feeding significantly influenced adherence to treatment in people living with HIV & AIDS (χ 2= 40.026: P < 0.05). In conclusion, educational level and pattern of daily feeding have significant influence on level of adherence to treatment among PLHIV. Service providers should therefore provide more adherence support to clients with higher educational status and provision of financial support to indigent clients on ART should not be ruled out at least to meet their basic feeding needs. Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Adherence, Clinical Efficacy, Biological Suppression, Educational Level, Pattern of Daily Feeding.

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