Adherence to Antiretroviral Medications Among People Living With HIV in the Era of COVID-19 in Central Ethiopia and Perceived Impact of the Pandemic.

AIM: This study assessed the level of adherence to antiretroviral drugs and the associated factors among clients who have a follow-up at public health facilities in central Ethiopia. METHOD: A multi-site cross-sectional study was conducted from August 1-30, 2020 at seven public health institutions. A systematic random sampling method was used to recruit 385 participants. Data was collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Analysis was done using descriptive statistics, and binary logistic regression model. The OR with its 95% C.I was employed to present analytic outputs. Statistical significance for the multivariable model was considered at p ≤ 0.05. RESULTS: Of the 371 participants, the majority were females (233, 62.8%), attended health centers (215, 58.0%), and were married (173, 46.6%). Eighty-nine (89, 24.0%) of the participants have at least one comorbidity. About 72 (19.0%) and 50 (13.5%) of the respondents stated that the COVID-19 has posed challenges on their follow-ups and availability of medications respectively. Nearly a half of the people living with HIV and comorbid T2DM or hypertension (29, 48.0%) reported that they had encountered an increase in the price of medications compared to the pre-COVID-19 times. About half of the respondents in the study setting have perfect adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) (200, 54.0%). Basic education (aOR = 3.02: 95% CI: 1.57-5.80), marriage (aOR = 2.27: 95% CI: 1.24-4.15), attendance to a health center (aOR = 0.59: 95% CI: 0.36-0.98) and sleep disturbance (aOR = 0.47: 95% CI: 0.26-0.84) showed a statistically significant association with adherence to ART. CONCLUSION: About half of the respondents in the study settings have perfect adherence to their ART medications. As multiple factors interplay in the success rate of adherence to ART, stakeholders should place and strengthen practices, such as active follow-up and tracing of cases, ensuring medication affordability (access and low pricing), and psycho-social support to patients.

Health-Related Quality of Life of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Hypertension in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Background: The aim of this study was to assess the health-related quality of life of patients with T2DM and hypertension attending public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from 1st through 30th August 2020 at the selected institutions. Health facilities were chosen purposively based on patient load. Participants were drawn after proportional to size allocation. A translated EQ-5D-3L, and EQ-VAS instrument was used to collect the data. Analysis was done using SPSS v.26.0. Both parametric and non-parametric models were applied in the analysis. Results: Of the 409 participants included, the majority were in the age group of 46-60 (36.0%), females (56.0%), from hospitals (54.8%), jobless (25.4%), and married (63.3%). Over two-thirds of the patients reported no problems with self-care, usual activity, and depression/anxiety. All dimensions showed an increasing proportion of moderate to severe problems in the age group beyond 45. Facility type, comorbid condition and age showed a statistically significant score difference for QoL. The overall prevalence of any problem was 59.0%. Education level, visit to a health center, and marriage showed lower odds of affected HRQoL whereas, lower monthly income and presence of comorbidities were opposite. Conclusion: HRQoL of patients in the study settings was suboptimal and below the general population. Attributes, such as education, facility type, marital status, income level, and comorbid status have a statistically significant association with HRQoL. Arrangement of a safe and quality health services is paramount, especially, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Magnitude and associated factors of poor medication adherence among diabetic and hypertensive patients visiting public health facilities in Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: This study aims to assess the magnitude and associated factors of poor medication adherence among diabetic and hypertensive patients visiting public health facilities in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A multi-site cross-sectional design was conducted from 1st through 30th of August 2020 at public health facilities of the study area. Adult outpatients with T2DM and hypertension visiting hospitals and health centers were included in the study. A proportion to size allocation method was used to determine the required sample size per facility. Data was collected using the 8-item Morisky medication adherence scale. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression were used to analyze data. A 95% confidence interval and p≤0.05 statistical significance was considered to determine factors associated with poor medication adherence. RESULTS: A total of 409 patients were included in the present study. About 57% of the patients reported that the COVID-19 pandemic has posed negative impacts on either of their follow-up visits, availability of medications, or affordability of prices. And, 21% have reported that they have been affected in all aspects. The overall magnitude of poor medication adherence was 72%. Patients with extreme poverty were more likely to have good medication adherence (AOR: 0.59; 95%C.I: 0.36-0.97), whereas attendance to a health center (AOR: 1.71; 95%C.I: 1.02-2.85), presence of comorbidity (AOR: 2.05; 95%C.I: 1.13-3.71), and current substance use history (AOR: 11.57; 95%C.I: 1.52-88.05) predicted high odds of poor adherence. CONCLUSION: Over a three-fourth of the patients, in the study setting, have poor adherence to their anti-diabetic and antihypertensive medications. Health facility type, income level, comorbidity, and current substance use history showed a statistically significant association with poor adherence to medication. Stakeholders should set alternative strategies as perceived impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on medication adherence are high in the study area.