Medication Adherence and Risk Factors for Non-adherence among Patients taking Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy

Background: ART is a life long treatment and its effectiveness depends critically both on the efficacy of the antiretroviral drugs against the virus, and achieving a very high level of adherence (> 95 %) to the medications. Adherence poses a special challenge and requires commitment from the patient and the health care provider.Objectives: The study evaluated medication adherence, and identified risk factors for non-adherence in HIV-infected ART patients.Methods: In a cross-sectional survey, medication adherence of 118 HIV-infected ART patients who received pretreatment and ongoing adherence counseling and education for 6 months was evaluated using a self-administered studyspecific 16-item questionnaire. Self-reported adherence was calculated as the mean of patients' adherence to the medication schedule and the number of prescribed doses of medications missed. Chi-square statistics was used to test the association of adherence with occupation and education at 95 % CI.Results: The mean age of participants was 33.9 (95 % CI, 29.6-38.2) years; and 82.2 % of participants were aged 26-45years; 60.2 % females, 80.5 % attained secondary education at the least; and 77.1 % were employed. All participants reported been counseled on the benefits of ART and medication adherence at ART initiation. On assessment of participants' knowledge of the benefits of ART and medication adherence, 92.2 % were very knowledgeable, 2.9 %reported wrongly that ART is a cure for HIV. The self-reported adherence to medication schedule was 68.9 %(range: 0 % - 100 %), of which 83 (70.3 %) reported > 75 % adherence; while adherence to prescribed doses of medications was 89.2 % (range: 20 % - 100 %), of which 100 (84.7 %) participants reported > 80 % adherence. Mean self-reported adherence (±SD) was 79.1 % ± 14.4 %. Employment status was associated with poor adherence (P < 0.05), unlike the educational status. The major reasons reported for non-adherence were busy at work or school (33.1 %), forgetfulness (15.5 %), fasting (12.0 %), and travelled away from home (10.6%). Conclusion: The self-reported adherence was relatively poor compared to the desired value of > 95%. Employment status was associated with poor adherence and this may be corroborated by the major reason reported for non-adherence (busy at work or school). Routine adherence monitoring and multiple adherence interventions in clinical practice are recommended

Status of Breast Self Examination Among Health Professsional Of Abia State University Teaching Hospital

Breast self-examination (BSE) is recommended for breast cancer screening but most Nigerian women do not perform BSE regularly. Breast cancer; a significant cause of mortality; can often be detected in an early stage. This may be achieved by mammography; physical examination by skilled practitioners or through breast self-examination. In this preliminary study; we present the responses received on breast self-examination among health professionals at the Abia State University Teaching Hospital; Aba; Abia State. One hundred questionaires were distributed to final year female medical students; house officers interns; pharmacists and nurses. Out of the 100 dstributed; respondents were 94 (94). Among the 94 it was found out that 79 (84) practice Breast self-examination; but the number that examine their breast monthly was only 45 (47.9). With this low level of monthly breast self-examination; there is the need to create the awareness and encourage the regular monthly practice. Among the repondents 74 (78.7) knew the gravity of breast cancer