Determinants of adherence to anti-retroviraltherapy (ART): protocols in public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

In Ethiopia, Antiretroviral Therapy is given free of charge. Lifelong adherence to ART is crucial to upgrade the patients’ health condition and to safeguard the growth of mutated strains of the human immunity deficiency viruses that are ART resistant. A person with ART resistant strains of HIV can spread these to other people, who need more expensive ART with more serious side effects. The purpose of the study is to improve the level of adherence to different ART protocols in three public hospitals of Addis Ababa.The study population is people living with HIV/AIDS who are 18 years and above, and were enrolled in ART treatment from outpatient health clinics at three selected in Addis Ababa, public hospitals.