Adherence and Contributing Factors among HIV Infected Children in Adama Hospital Medical College, Ethiopia

Background: Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is a public health problem and major development crisis that affects all sectors. In 2013, an estimated 35.2 million people were living with HIV worldwide and 3.5 million of these were children under 15 years of age. Children continue to be born with HIV worldwide; however, sub-Saharan African is the most affected. The introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatment has extended and improved the quality of life for people living with HIV by reducing their viral load, often to undetectable levels. Strict adherence to anti retro viral treatment is essential in pediatrics in order to obtain desired benefit and to avoid the emergence of drug resistance, clinical failure.