Determinants of Non-Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment Among HIV Positive Adolescents in the Mining District of Sanyati, Mashonaland West Province, Zimbabwe, 2019

Abstract

Adherence to ART in Mashonaland West province was 84% in 2018, lower than the 95% target recommended by the World Health Organisation. Among the seven districts in the province, Sanyati district had the lowest adherence rate of 85% in 2017 and 76% in 2018 across all age groups. This was particularly the case among adolescents where adherence was 90% in 2017 and droped to 84% in 2018. This study therefore assessed factors associated with non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy among adolescents living in the mining District of Sanyati. Method: An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Sanyati District amongst 256 randomly selected HIV positive adolescents. Interviewer-administered questionnaires were used to collect data. Univariate, bivariate, stratified and stepwise backward logistic regression analysis were perfomed. Results: Independent factors associated with non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy were participating in artisanal mining for >50 hours per week with (aOR=6.24 CI=1.87-11.25), having good perceived ART benefits (aOR=0.11 CI=0.03-0.46) and failure to disclose HIV status (aOR=8.30 CI=1.86-37.09). In this study, adolescents who were participating in artisanal mining for >50 hours per week, who were using alternative HIV treatment methods and those who failed to disclose taking of ART medicines to friends or family members were more likely to be non-adherent to ART. Sanyati District has to come up with Adolescents community ART refill groups (ACARG) and to produce and procure IEC material on HIV management and ART specifically for adolescents.