Adherence to anti-retroviral therapy among HIV patients in Bangalore, India

A cross-sectional anonymous questionnaire survey of 60 HIV antibody positive patients was carried out with patients attending HIV outpatient services at two centres: The Chest and Maternity Centre, Rajajinagar, and Wockhardt Hospital and Heart Institute, Bangalore. Consent was obtained. Translation was done by a translator and doctors where required. Data was analysed using SPSS statistical analysis.A response rate of 88% (53/60) was achieved. The mean patient age was 39.98 years, with 50% aged 30–40, and 73.6% of participants being male. Mean family size was 4.8 (1–13). 21% lived less than 50 kms and 21% greater than 400 kms from clinic.60% reported they were fully adherent. Adherence was statistically significantly linked to regular follow-up attendance (70.5%, p = 0.002). No other results were statistically significant but trends were found. "100% adherence" trends were seen in older patients, male gender, those from larger families, those who had a previous AIDS defining illness, those taking fewer tablets, and without food restrictions. Commonest side-effects causing non-adherence were metabolic reasons (66%) and GI symptoms (50%). No trends were seen for education level, family income, distance travelled to clinic, time since diagnosis, or time on ART.Regular attendance for follow up was statistically significant for 100% lifetime adherence. Positive trends were seen in those in larger families, older, those who had AIDS defining illness, simple regimes, and without side-effects. Education, income, distance travelled and length of time diagnosed or treated had no effect on adherence.Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) affects 40.3 million people worldwide [1]. Sub-Saharan Africa, with an estimated 25.8 million carriers, has the greatest burden of disease (64%) [1,2]. The prevalence is estimated at 5–15% in most other Sub-Saharan countries [1,2]. Asia has an estimated prevalence in the region of 8.3 million, with 5.2 million being in India, giving an Indian adul