ADHERENCE TO ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY MEDIATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BOTH LIFE AND PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESSES WITH VIRAL LOAD AMONG HIV-POSITIVE PATIENTS

Adherence to treatment plays an important role in controlling the HIV disease. However, treatment adherence might be affected by different factors such as stressful life event and psychological distress. Therefore, the goals of this study were to investigate the effects of both of types of stresses on adherence and viral load, and to investigate the association between both stresses ? that were being mediated by adherence ? with the viral load. In this study, 140 HIV-positive patients participated in the 3-month period study. Stressful life events were measured using Life Events Survey (LES). Psychological stresses were quantified using Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). Both types of stress significantly affected adherence and viral load. Moreover, both stresses and treatment adherence significantly affected viral load. Additional, the association between both types of stresses and viral load was significantly mediated by treatment adherence. Therefore, clear understanding of these mechanisms will aid HIV program managers, growth partners, and researchers in developing strategies to increase adherence awareness.