Behavioral Competencies and Low Alcohol and Drugs Use Predicts Medication - Adherence Behaviors Among HIV+ Persons from Venezuela

Background: Treatment success among HIV+ persons under an antiretroviral regimen strongly rely on individual factors. Objective: To test the variables of a psychological model and the influence of alcohol and drugs use in the prediction of medication-adherence behaviors. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 124 HIV+ persons recruited in an outpatient clinic in the state of Lara, Venezuela, who completed a self-administered questionnaire measuring psychological variables and medication-adherence behaviors, as well as an index of alcohol and drugs use. Moment-product correlation and structural equation modeling were applied for data analyses. Results: Current behavioral competencies showed a direct effect on medication-adherence behaviors, mediating the indirect effect of low alcohol and drugs use. The structural equation modeling demonstrated a good fit to the sample data: χ2 / gl = 1.42, GFI = 0.99, AGFI = 0.94, NFI = 0.98, CFI = 0.99, FD = 0.02 [FDMI = 1.13], PNCP = 0.01 [PNCPMI = 1.08], RMSEA = 0.05, RMSSR = 0.04. Conclusion: Behavioral competencies and low alcohol and drugs use were significant predictors of medication-adherence behaviors. Further research direction, including national wide of HIV+ persons from Venezuela and the development of interdisciplinary interventions that promote and sustain medication-adherence behaviors are discussed.