Free treatment, Severe Malaria, children under-five years, Bamenda Health District.

CaHReF 2016, Yaoundé Conges hall, 23 – 26 August 2016 , PL185

North West HIV/AIDS control Programme

The availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has decreased the number of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)-related deaths and has allowed people with AIDS to lead healthy lives. The continued success of ART will therefore depend critically on sustained high ART adherence. Support group is a well-known method, which can help HIV/AIDS patients improve adherence. A support group constitutes Persons Living with HIV (PLWHIV) who come together to encourage each other by sharing experiences, challenges and counselling confidentially. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a support group on patient’s ART adherence.

It was a cross-sectional study where a convenient sampling technique was used to select two treatment centres in the Bamenda health district: one public (hosting a support group) and one private (with no support group). A total of 146 support group and 129 non-support groups PLWHIV on ART were recruited into the study as they came to the hospital for their medication refill visit. Data was collected from June to July, 2015 and involved interviewer-administered structured questionnaire and review of each participant’s hospital record. Two focus group discussion sessions (FGD) were organized. Adherence was measured using a 30 days self-report and 12 months refill appointments.

72% (198/275) of participants adequately adhered to treatment. Higher adherence was observed at the treatment centre hosting a support group compared to the treatment centre with no support group. Participants belonging to an HIV-support group had an adherence rate of 83.56% (122/146) compared to 58.90% (76/129) for non-support group members (χ2 = 20.6369, p< 0.001). Potential predictors for joining an HIV support group were income level >60,000 FRS (p=0.005), self-employed (Odds ratio, OR=11.68, p=0.02), public sector employee (OR=7.18, p=0.02) and condom users (OR=2.75, p=0.004). HIV Support group members demonstrated a high level of knowledge of adherence to ART during the FGD. 

Belonging to an HIV-support group impacts positively therapeutic success. HIV- support groups should therefore be integrated into the National HIV/AIDS Control Programme for the care, treatment and management of PLWHIV.

HIV/AIDS, Antiretrovirals, Adherence, HIV support group, Focus Group Discussion.