Assessment of adherence to Anti -Retroviral Therapy (ART) and its associated factors among the People living with HIV (PLHIV) attending ART center, in a tertiary care hospital, Jammu, UT of J&K (India).: Assessment of adherence to Anti -Retroviral Therapy (ART) and its associated factors among the People living with HIV (PLHIV) attending ART center, in a tertiary care hospital, Jammu, UT of J&K (India).

Mahendra Dhadawad; Rashmi Kumari; Rajiv Kumar Gupta; JYOTI  BALA; Chaitanya Kailu; Rishab Gupta Gupta

Authors

Dr Mahendra Dhadawad
Dr Rashmi Kumari
Dr Rajiv Kumar Gupta https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9096-3593
JYOTI BALA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6037-7024
Dr Chaitanya Kailu
Dr Rishab Gupta

Keywords:

Keywords: Adherence, ART, PLHIV, Jammu

Abstract

Background: Adherence to antiretroviral Therapy has played a key role in enhancing the life years of PLHIV. ART adherence of at least 95% is needed for the optimal suppression. The present study is aimed to assess adherence to ART and its associated factors among PLHIV in a tertiary care centre in Jammu, UT of Jammu & Kashmir. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted for a period of six months w.e.f. May-Oct 2025. The information was collected from 280 patients about their socio- clinical profile and possible factors contributing to non- adherence. Adherence to ART was assessed using Simplified Medication Adherence Questionnaire. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 27. Results: Mean age of participants was 42±13.44 years and overall adherence was 90.4%. Most common reason for non- adherence was forgetfulness and difficulty in accessibility to ART. Among the variables, history of substance abuse, current state of relation with spouse and monthly income were significantly associated with adherence to ART (p <0.05). Conclusions: High adherence levels were likely due to free availability of ART and mobilization by health care workers. Monitoring of non-adherence behaviors among respondents can help to increase adherence levels and this will lead to improvement in treatment outcomes

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/hiv-aids#:~:text=Global%20situation %20and %20trends:,and%20received%results520IN%202023,last accessed on 14.02.2026

Sahay s, Reddy KS,Dhayarkar S. Optimizing adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Indian journal of med. Res.2011;134:835-49.

World Health Organisation (WHO). (2010). Adherence to longterm therapies: Evidence for action. [Last accessed on 2013 Jul 23]. Available from: http://www.who.int/chp/knowledge/publications/adherence_report/en/

Nachega JB, Marconi VC, van Zyl GU, Gardner EM, Preiser W, Hong SY, et al. HIV treatment adherence, drug resistance, virologic failure: Evolving concepts. Infectious Disorders — Drug Targets. 2011;11(2):167–74.

Mhaskar R, Alandikar V, Emmanuel P, Djulbegovic B, Patel S, Patel A, Naik E, Mohapatra S, Kumar A. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in India: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Indian J Community Med. 2013 Apr;38(2):74-82. doi: 10.4103/0970-0218.112435. PMID: 23878418; PMCID: PMC3714945.

Knobel H, Alonso J, Casado JL, Collazos J, González J, Ruiz I, Kindelan JM, Carmona A, Juega J, Ocampo A; GEEMA Study Group. Validation of a simplified medication adherence questionnaire in a large cohort of HIV-infected patients: the GEEMA Study. AIDS. 2002 Mar 8;16(4):605-13. doi: 10.1097/00002030-200203080-00012. PMID: 11873004.

Goma F, Papazisis G. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV seropositive patients in northern Greece. Major factors of influence. Hippokratia. 2020 Jul;24(3):114.

Neupane S, Dhungana GP, Ghimire HC. Adherence to antiretroviral treatment and associated factors among people living with HIV and AIDS in CHITWAN, Nepal. BMC public health. 2019 Jun 10;19(1):720.

Günthard HF, Saag MS, Benson CA, Del Rio C, Eron JJ, Gallant JE, Hoy JF, Mugavero MJ, Sax PE, Thompson MA, Gandhi RT. Antiretroviral drugs for treatment and prevention of HIV infection in adults: 2016 recommendations of the International Antiviral Society–USA panel. Jama. 2016 Jul 12;316(2):191-210.

Wasti SP, Simkhada P, Randall J, Freeman JV, Van Teijlingen E. Factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral treatment in Nepal .a mixed methods study .PLOS One. 2012;7(5):e35547.

Shigdel R, Klouman E, Bhandari A, Ahmed LA. Factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected patients in Kathmandu District, Nepal. HIV/AIDS (Auckl). 2014;6:109.

Bam K. Adherence to anti-retroviral therapy among people living with HIV and AIDS in far west, Nepal; 2009.

Achappa B, Madi D, Bhaskaran U, Ramapuram JT, Rao S, Mahalingam S.Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV. N Am J Med Sci. 2013;5(3):220.

Yadeta AD, Chaka EE. Predictors of Art Adherence among People Living with Human Immune Virus Attending Treatment at Hospitals in West Shewa Zone, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, 2015. J Health Med Nursing.2016;29.

Camargo CC,Cavassan NRV, Tasca KI, Meneguin S, Miot HA, Souza LR.Depression and coping are associated with failure of Adherence to antiretroviral Therapy among People Living with HIV/AIDS.AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses.2019;35: 1181-1188.

King RM, Vidrine DJ, Danysh H, Fletcher FE, McCurdy S, Arduino RC, et al. Factors associated with nonadherence to anti-retroviral therapy in HIV-positive smokers. AIDS Patient Care STDS. 2012; 26: 479-485.

González-Álvarez S, Madoz-Gúrpide A, Parro-Torres C,Hernández-Huerta D, Ochoa Mangado E. Relationship between alcohol consumption, whether linked to other substance use ornot, and antiretroviral treatment adherence in HIV+ patients. Adicciones. 2017; 31: 8-17.

Assessment of adherence to Anti -Retroviral Therapy (ART) and its associated factors among the People living with HIV (PLHIV) attending ART center, in a tertiary care hospital, Jammu, UT of J&K (India).