Impact of Informal Care Giving on Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV Positive Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Fako Division

Background Adherence to antiretroviral treatment ART is vital to a successful implementation of Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission PMTCT program. A relationship exists between high prevalence of HIV among pregnant and breastfeeding women and the demand for health care services on both formal and informal caregivers. Hence HIV's burden transcends the health care system to families and friends who are without appropriate sensitization and educational preparation to take up the caregiving role to meet the health need of their family members. The study therefore aimed at investigating the impact of informal care giving on adherence to antiretroviral treatment ART among HIV positive pregnant and lactating women in Fako Division, South West Region, and Cameroon.Methodology A cross sectional descriptive study was conducted among 384 pregnant women and lactating mothers in the PMTCT program from twelve health facilities located in Fako Division in the South West Region of Cameroon. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, as well as bivariate and multivariate logistic regression.Results The mean ±SD age of the participants was 28.15 ±7.70 years with the age group of 21 to 30 years constituting half 50.3 of the study population. A high proportion 64.1 of HIV positive pregnant women were receiving care related to their HIV infection and treatment from informal care givers. Distant relatives were the highest category 50.0 of informal care givers. The husbands of the pregnant women provided the least 0.7 informal cares to the women. Almost three quarter of the women had a low level of adherence to ART compared to a greater proportion of participants with poor level of adherence. no significant association was observed between informal care and clinic appointment 2 = 0.551, p = 0.458 . There was statistical significant association between socio demographic variables and informal care giving.Conclusions The health care provided by the patient's social network is important in low income settings. There is a significant contribution by the informal caregivers who form the backbone of health care system round the world. Informal caregivers operate as extensions of health care systems performing complex medical and therapeutic tasks and ensuring care recipient adherence to therapeutic regimens. Ebobesem Margaret E.O. | Nsagha Dickson Shey | Kamga Henri | Fokam Pius | Emmanuel Yenshu "Impact of Informal Care-Giving on Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV Positive Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women in Fako Division" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-3 | Issue-6 , October 2019, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd29355.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/other-scientific-research-area/other/29355/impact-of-informal-care-giving-on-adherence-to-antiretroviral-therapy-among-hiv-positive-pregnant-and-breastfeeding-women-in-fako-division/ebobesem-margaret-eo