Study the drug adherence and possible factor influencing drug adherence in HIV/AIDS patients in north eastern part of India

BACKGROUND: Majority of HIV/AIDS patients who are on Highly Active Anti Retroviral Therapy (HAART), are not aware about drug adherence and its importance which is the most important factor for drug adherence. OBJECTIVES: To study the level of drug adherence in patients accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART) through the National program and factor influencing drug adherence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In present study, we enrolled 102 newly diagnosed patients, among them in 79 patients, ART was started. To study the drug adherence a pretested, semistructured questionnaire was formed and patients were followed up for 6 months of the study. Pretest and posttest counseling was done to all such patients. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients missed the dose in 1(st) follow-up, nine patients missed in 2(nd) follow-up, eight patients missed in 3(rd) follow-up. Three patients lost follow-up in 2(nd) follow-up, three patients further lost follow-up in 3(rd) follow-up. Running out of pills (40.0%), side effect (15.5%), and family problem (13.3%), poor transport facility for taking drug (8.9%) and forgetfulness (11.1%) are five major causes related to miss dose. In females patients, drug adherence (69%) was initially less than male patients (76%) but latter on female patients (96.3%) had better adherence than males (95.2%). CONCLUSION: This study suggest that drug adherence can be increased by proper counseling and close monitoring of the patients which may have a great role in preventing the drug resistance and ART response.