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Forgetting to Take Medication, Treatment Adherence and Their Relationship with Viral Load Suppression Among People Living with HIV in the Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania

Masika, Lyidia V. ; Mboya, Innocent B. LU orcid ; Maro, Rehema Anenmose ; Mtesha, Benson ; Mtoro, Mtoro J. ; Ngowi, Kennedy ; Mahande, Michael Johnson and Sumari-De Boer, I. Marion (2024) In HIV/AIDS - Research and Palliative Care 16. p.245-257
Abstract

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is crucial for virological suppression and positive treatment outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV), but remains a challenge in ensuring patients achieve and sustain viral load suppression. Despite the recommended use of digital tools medications uptake reminders, the contribution of forgetting to take medication is unknown. This study investigated the contribution of forgetting to take medication on the total missed medication and its effects on detectable viral load (VL). Methods: This mixed-method research was conducted among children, adolescents, pregnant, and breastfeeding women living with HIV on ART in northern Tanzania. Forgetting to take medication constituted... (More)

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is crucial for virological suppression and positive treatment outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV), but remains a challenge in ensuring patients achieve and sustain viral load suppression. Despite the recommended use of digital tools medications uptake reminders, the contribution of forgetting to take medication is unknown. This study investigated the contribution of forgetting to take medication on the total missed medication and its effects on detectable viral load (VL). Methods: This mixed-method research was conducted among children, adolescents, pregnant, and breastfeeding women living with HIV on ART in northern Tanzania. Forgetting to take medication constituted reporting to have missed medication due to forgetfulness. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) to determine the contribution of forgetting medication intakes on total missed medication and other factors associated with having a detectable VL. Results: Of 427 respondents, 33.3% were children, 33.4% adolescents, and 33.3% pregnant and breastfeeding women, whose median age (interquartile range) was 9 (7–12), 18 (16–18), and 31 (27–36) years, respectively. Ninety-two (22.3%) reported missing medication over the past month, of which 72 (17.9%) was due to forgetting. Forgetting to take medication (AOR: 1.75 95% CI: 1.01–3.06) and being on second-line regimen (AOR: 2.89 95% CI: 1.50–5.55) increased the chances of a detectable VL, while females had lower chances of detectable VL (AOR: 0.62 95% CI: 0.41–0.98). The themes on the reasons for forgetting to take medication from qualitative results included being busy with work and the importance of reminders. Conclusion: Forgetting to take medication is common among PLHIV and an important predictor of a detectable VL. This calls for the use of automated short message services (SMS) reminders or Digital Adherence Tools with reminders to improve and promote good ART adherence among PLHIV.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
ARV Adherence, forgetting medication, skipping medication, Tanzania, viral load suppression
in
HIV/AIDS - Research and Palliative Care
volume
16
pages
245 - 257
publisher
Dove Medical Press Ltd.
external identifiers
  • pmid:38911143
  • scopus:85197206583
ISSN
1179-1373
DOI
10.2147/HIV.S452875
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Publisher Copyright: © 2024 Masika et al.
id
797768a8-2dd5-4749-a4d4-8aa559b5b785
date added to LUP
2024-07-08 10:48:00
date last changed
2024-07-09 16:29:05
@article{797768a8-2dd5-4749-a4d4-8aa559b5b785,
  abstract     = {{<p>Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence is crucial for virological suppression and positive treatment outcomes among people living with HIV (PLHIV), but remains a challenge in ensuring patients achieve and sustain viral load suppression. Despite the recommended use of digital tools medications uptake reminders, the contribution of forgetting to take medication is unknown. This study investigated the contribution of forgetting to take medication on the total missed medication and its effects on detectable viral load (VL). Methods: This mixed-method research was conducted among children, adolescents, pregnant, and breastfeeding women living with HIV on ART in northern Tanzania. Forgetting to take medication constituted reporting to have missed medication due to forgetfulness. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) to determine the contribution of forgetting medication intakes on total missed medication and other factors associated with having a detectable VL. Results: Of 427 respondents, 33.3% were children, 33.4% adolescents, and 33.3% pregnant and breastfeeding women, whose median age (interquartile range) was 9 (7–12), 18 (16–18), and 31 (27–36) years, respectively. Ninety-two (22.3%) reported missing medication over the past month, of which 72 (17.9%) was due to forgetting. Forgetting to take medication (AOR: 1.75 95% CI: 1.01–3.06) and being on second-line regimen (AOR: 2.89 95% CI: 1.50–5.55) increased the chances of a detectable VL, while females had lower chances of detectable VL (AOR: 0.62 95% CI: 0.41–0.98). The themes on the reasons for forgetting to take medication from qualitative results included being busy with work and the importance of reminders. Conclusion: Forgetting to take medication is common among PLHIV and an important predictor of a detectable VL. This calls for the use of automated short message services (SMS) reminders or Digital Adherence Tools with reminders to improve and promote good ART adherence among PLHIV.</p>}},
  author       = {{Masika, Lyidia V. and Mboya, Innocent B. and Maro, Rehema Anenmose and Mtesha, Benson and Mtoro, Mtoro J. and Ngowi, Kennedy and Mahande, Michael Johnson and Sumari-De Boer, I. Marion}},
  issn         = {{1179-1373}},
  keywords     = {{ARV Adherence; forgetting medication; skipping medication; Tanzania; viral load suppression}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{245--257}},
  publisher    = {{Dove Medical Press Ltd.}},
  series       = {{HIV/AIDS - Research and Palliative Care}},
  title        = {{Forgetting to Take Medication, Treatment Adherence and Their Relationship with Viral Load Suppression Among People Living with HIV in the Kilimanjaro Region, Tanzania}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/HIV.S452875}},
  doi          = {{10.2147/HIV.S452875}},
  volume       = {{16}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}