Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among women living with HIV with previous participation in prevention of mother-to-child transmission programmes in Moshi, Tanzania

Abstract

ABSTRACT Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among women living with HIV with previous participation in prevention of mother-to-child transmission programmes in Moshi, Tanzania Linnea Jönsson Degree Project, Programme in Medicine, 2018. Department of Infectious Diseases, Gothenburg, Sweden. Background To optimize adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programmes, it is important to know ART adherence patterns among women. Increased knowledge of this can increase compliance to ART and further on decrease transmission of HIV from mother to child. Aim Investigate the effects of previous participation in PMTCT programmes on ART adherence among women living with HIV attending the PMTCT programme. Methods This cohort study was conducted at health centres in Moshi, Tanzania, March–April 2018. A semistructured questionnaire was administered to women attending Care and Treatment Clinics and antenatal clinics. In addition, information from medical charts was collected. Adherence was defined as number of missed doses during the last week. Good adherence was defined as an intake of 95% or more. Results Twenty-one participants were enrolled. Nineteen women (90%) were adherent to their medication during the last week. Eight women (38%) had previously participated in a PMTCT programme and among those, two women had ended prematurely. There was no significant difference in ART adherence among mothers participating in the PMTCT programme for the first time compared to those who had participated before (p = 0.51). Conclusion Adherence rate among the women attending the PMTCT programme in Moshi is high. No correlation between previous participation in PMTCT programme and ART adherence was found.