Adherence to generic ARV medication at a Tertiary Center in North India

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AIDS and Behavior, Publisher: Springer Netherlands. ISSN: 1090-7165 (Paper)

1573-3254 (Online). DOI: 10.1007/s10461-006-9101-y

Issue: Online First

Adherence to generic reverse transcriptase inhibitor-based antiretroviral

medication at a Tertiary Center in North India

A. Wanchu1 , R. Kaur1, P. Bambery1 and S. Singh1

(1) Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical

Education and Research, Chandigarh, India Published online: 11 April 2006

Abstract At least 95% adherence to medications is required for sustained

response to antiretroviral therapy (ART). In resource constraint restrained

settings it is not possible to use electronic methods to determine adherence. We

determined adherence during the previous 4 weeks by the recall method in 200

patients (138 males) receiving generic triple drug reverse transcriptase

inhibitor-based antiretroviral medications.

They were administered a uniform questionnaire to determine the number of time

they forgot or were unable to take their medications and the reasons thereof.

One hundred and fifty received two and 50 took three pills daily. One hundred

and forty-seven did not miss any dose. Fifty-three (26.5%) missed at least one

dose during the preceding 4 weeks. Thirty-one took treatment on and off. Seven

missed a dose in the preceding 3 days, nine more between the last 3 and 7 days,

and six from 1 to 4 weeks.

The major reasons for non-adherence were financial constraints, forgetting to

take the medication, drug toxicity, lack of access to the drug, fear of getting

immune to the benefit of the drug, and to avoid adverse effects. Non-adherence

in 26.5% individuals could be an additional factor that can increase the risk of

drug resistance.

You may view this paper at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10461-006-9101-y

Keywords Adherence - Antiretrovirals - HIV - Resource constrained - India.

Contact the author, Dr Ajay Wanchu <awanchu@...>