Factors Influencing Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among Sero-Positive Clients at a County Hospital - Nairobi, Kenya

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has shown to improve the health and prolong the lives of most Sero-positive clients. In comparison to other therapies, the efficacy of Antiretroviral therapy depends on strict adherence to the regimen. This poses the greatest challenges ever to many clients initiated on the therapy. Obtaining the full benefit from the therapy is a complex individual behavioral process influenced by many and broader factors. The study sought to determine the factors that influence adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among the Sero-positive clients initiated on ART. Study objective To determine the factors affecting adherence to antiretroviral therapy among the Sero-positive clients at a county hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. Methodology A cross-sectional study design was conducted at Mbagathi county hospital, Comprehensive Care Clinic. Convenient sampling method was used to select the 85 respondents to participate in the study. A structured-self-administered questionnaire was used to collect the data. , which was then analyzed by use of Statistical Package for Social Sciences (version 24). Relevant approvals/ Authorities to collect data were also obtained. Results Most respondents severely affected by the scourge belonged to the child-bearing age group between 15-49 years with majority (42.6 %) aged between 25-34 years. Conclusion Factors that were significantly associated with high ART adherence levels included adequate knowledge regarding the therapy, accessibility of the ART and positive attitude towards the therapy. However, Stigmatization and discrimination were found to be the main obstacles to effective ART adherence. The study concluded that there are increased HIV infections among the child-bearing age group (15-49 years) with more HIV infections among women.