Explaining Adherence To Haart Among Patients Living With Hivaids in Nigeria Behavioral Theory Analysis
Explaining Adherence To Haart Among Patients Living With Hivaids in Nigeria Behavioral Theory Analysis
Explaining Adherence To Haart Among Patients Living With Hivaids in Nigeria Behavioral Theory Analysis
*
Correspondence:
Equitable Health Access Initiative, Marina, Lagos, Nigeria.
1
Abayomi Joseph Afe, Equitable Health Access Initiative, P.O.Box
10047, GPO, Marina, Lagos, Nigeria, E-mail: abayomiafe@yahoo.
Babcock University, Marina, Lagos, Nigeria.
2
com.
Adeleke University, Marina, Lagos, Nigeria.
3
Received: 01 November 2017; Accepted: 24 November 2017
Citation: Joseph Afe A, Motunrayo O, Gbadebo O.Ogungbade. Explaining Adherence to HAART among Patients Living with HIV/
AIDS in Nigeria: Behavioral Theory Analysis . Clin Immunol Res. 2017; 1(1): 1-8.
ABSTRACT
Background: The number of Nigerians infected with the HIV infection in 2016 was about 3million, which was the
second highest burden globally and accounted for 9% of the worldwide burden of the HIV/AIDS. The country ART
programme which commenced in 2001 had adult coverage of 48.3% in 2014. Effectiveness of the antiretroviral
drug regimens requires a very good level of adherence (95%) to suppress viral replication. Despite all the strategies
to address the adherence barriers to HAART, the problems of poor adherence are ever-present. Factors determining
adherence to HAART drug regimens have been studied in various population but little is known on this subject among
PLHIV in Nigeria. Identifying and overcoming the factors that reduce adherence to combination antiretroviral
agents is of utmost importance for prolonged viral load suppression. Very few of the strategies developed to mitigate
the challenges of non-adherence were based on the theories of health behavior. However, behavioural theories, if
adopted, could assist in the development of more effective interventions to improve treatment adherence. This cross-
sectional study was conducted to explain the dynamics of HAART adherence among Nigerians living with HIV/
AIDS; using behaviour change theories such as the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Health Belief Model
(HBM).
Methods: This was a questionnaire-based study using closed ended-questionnaires administered by the on the 225
participants.
Findings: TPB model factors such as the ability to set realistic goals and objectives with respect to medication
adherence and meet such goals did not have any significant association with adherence (P 0.001) among the
PLHIV. Likewise other TPB factors like determination and self-discipline to adhere to medications (HAART) do not
have statistical association with HAART adherence. On the other hand, Health Believe Model (HBM) components
such as the belief that adherence to HAART improves HIV patent's health condition (P=0.004),adherence to HIV
medication is feasible in the Nigerian context (P=0.00), refusal to adhere to HAART is a serious health risk for the
HIV patient (P=0.00), non-adherence to HAART is life threatening for the HIV patient(P=0.00), non-adherence to
HAART can lead to AIDS faster (P=0.00), and the consequences of non-adherence to HAART are severe (P=0.00)
all show significant statistical association with HAART adherence .Also significant statistical association was
found between HAART adherence and other health believes like adherence to HAART is beneficial (P=0.00).
Conclusion: Unlike the theory of planned behaviour, health believes Model was most suited to explaining or
predicting patterns of HAART adherence behaviour among Nigerians PLHIV. However, for the model to be most
effective it would need to be integrated with other models that take into account the environmental context and
recommend strategies for change.
The Nigerian national ART programme started in 2001 with 25 Non-adherence is multifactorial and differs between patients.
tertiary hospitals and targeted 10,000 adults and 5,000 children. Successful long-term treatment of HIV/AIDS requires at least
However, following the 3 by 5 WHO initiative, the target was 95% adherence to the antiretroviral therapy (HAART) required for
reviewed to achieve universal access to ART by 2010. As at viral suppression required to keep people living with HIV/AIDS
2014, ART coverage among children consistently remained low (PLHIV) in good health and prevent emergence of drug-resistant
when compared to adults. Generally, there is an increase in ART HIV variants that could lead to regimen failure and limit options
coverage from 10.2% in 2010 to 20.7% in 2014 for children under for future therapy [15-17].
15 years. The adult coverage showed a progressive increase from
27.6% in 2010 to 48.3% in 2014. As at 2014, the National ART Despite all the strategies to address the adherence barriers to
program covered 747,382 (44%) out of the estimated 1,670,016 prescribed HAART drug regimens to manage HIV/AIDS, the
persons (adults and children) estimated to need ART by December, problems of inadequate observance are ever-present [18]. Among
2014. This shows a very poor achievement when compared with people living with HIV, it is almost impossible to predict which of
the national target sustainable scale-up of ART coverage [6,7]. them will best adhere to antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication
as preconceived ideas about who will be adhering and who will
The use of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has allowed people infected not are often wrong. Factors determining adherence to ARV drug
with HIV infection to live longer, healthier lives, slowing disease regimens have [3], been studied in various population but little
progression and preventing opportunistic diseases. Generally, is known on this subject among people living with HIV/AIDS
most medications used in treating chronic disease conditions are in Nigeria. Identifying and overcoming the factors that reduce
less effective without perfect adherence. Common estimates of adherence to combination antiretroviral agents is of utmost
drug adherence in most chronic illness [8], are from 20% to 80%, importance for prolonged viral load suppression. Very few of the
averaging 50%, and decreasing over the duration of the treatment many interventions developed to address the challenges of non-
[9]. Effectiveness of the antiretroviral drug regimens requires adherence are based on behaviour theories. These theories of health
at least a very good level of adherence. This is so because good behaviour can be used to develop more effective interventions to
adherence ensures that the blood therapeutic level of the ARV is promote ART adherence and can be used to assess the possibility
maintained to suppress viral replication. The consequences of poor of extending other interventions to different health issues and
adherence include inadequate viral suppression leading to greater settings. This cross-sectional study aimed to use behavior change
probability of transmission, immunologic and clinical failure thus theories applicable to long-term treatment adherence, such as
increasing the susceptibility to opportunistic infections, disease the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Health Belief Model
progression which increase HIV-related mortality and morbidity. (HBM) as theoretical framework and a self-addressed tool to
Clin Immunol Res, 2017 Volume 1 | Issue 1 | 2 of 8
explain the dynamics of HAART adherence among Nigerians making process that does not can change over time.
living with HIV/AIDS; assess the evidence for their effectiveness • The perceived behavioral control component of this theory
of the theories in predicting behavior change; and examine the doesn't say anything about actual control over behavior.
implications of these findings for developing strategies to improve • The theory does not address the time frame between "intent"
HIV/AIDS medication adherence. and "behavioral action".
Strongly Agree 23 58% 85 46% 108 Table 3: Explaining Adherence Among PLHIV Using Health Believe
Model (HBM).
Strongly Disagree 1 3% 2 1% 3
Total 40 100 185 100 225 Discussion
Adherence to HIV medication is Adherence to HAART All the 225 questionnaires administered were completely answered
feasible in the Nigerian context No % Yes % Total with the data cleaned and retrieved for analysis. There were more
Agree 11 28% 122 66% 133 respondents who were female, married and had college education as
Disagree 0 0% 1 1% 1 the highest attained level of education. Such similar findings have
P=0.000 Don’t Know 12 30% 10 5% 22
been reported from other works done on adherence in the region
[25]. Some African studies carried out among adult HIV patients in
Strongly Agree 16 40% 51 28% 67
clinic settings also had higher ratio of female to male respondents
Strongly Disagree 1 3% 1 1% 2
[26,27]. More than fifty percent of the respondents were employed
Total 40 100 185 100 225 and most were Christians. This is contrary to national demographic
Refusal to adhere to HAART is a Adherence to HAAR T survey which showed almost equal proportions of Christian and
serious health risk for the HIV patient No % Yes % Total Muslims in the country and lower proportions of Nigerians with
Don’t Know 5 13% 6 3% 11 secondary and tertiary education [28].
Agree 8 20% 125 68% 133
P=0.000 Disagree 1 3% 5 3% 6
Using the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) to explain HAART
adherence among the clients, it was found that TPB model
Strongly Agree 25 63% 49 26% 74
factors such as the ability to set realistic goals and objectives
Strongly Disagree 1 3% 0 0% 1
with respect to medication adherence and meet such goals do not
Total 40 100 185 100 225 have any significant association with adherence (P 0.001) among
Non-adherence to HAART is life Adherence to HAART the PLHIV. Likewise other TPB factors like determination and
threatening for the HIV patient No % Yes % Total self-discipline to adhere to medications (HAART) do not have
Dont Know 8 20% 26 14% 34 statistical association with HAART adherence.
Agree 11 28% 86 46% 97
P=0.000 Disagree 0 0% 4 2% 4 On the other hand, Health Believe Model (HBM) elements such as
the belief that adherence to HAART improves HIV patent's health
Strongly Agree 20 50% 67 36% 87
condition (P=0.004), adherence to HIV medication is feasible in
Strongly Disagree 1 3% 2 1% 3
the Nigerian context (P=0.00), refusal to adhere to HAART is a
Total 40 100 185 100 225 serious health risk for the HIV patient (P=0.00), non-adherence
Non-adherence to HAART can lead to Adherence to HAART to HAART is life threatening for the HIV patient (P=0.00), non-
AIDS faster No % Yes % Total adherence to HAART can lead to AIDS faster (P=0.00), and the
Don’t Know 21 53% 49 26% 70 consequences of non-adherence to HAART are severe (P=0.00)
P=0.000 False 5 13% 6 3% 11 all show significant association with HAART adherence .Also
True 14 35% 130 70% 144 significant statistical association was found between HAART
adherence and other health believes like adherence to HAART is
Total 40 100 185 100 225
beneficial (P=0.00).
Consequences of non-adherence to Adherence to HAART
HAART are severe No % Yes % Total
The theory of planned behaviour which has been used widely
Clin Immunol Res, 2017 Volume 1 | Issue 1 | 6 of 8
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