Publications

This research aimed to assess the factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral therapy(ART) among HIV-positive youth patients attending the ART Clinic in Kiryandongo GeneralHospital, Kiryandongo District. The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional researchdesign, with a sample of 355 respondents between the ages of 10 and 25 who werereceiving antiretroviral treatment. The study found a low level of adherence toantiretroviral treatment (33%), significantly lower than the national target of 90%.Adherence was influenced by various individual, drug-related, and healthcare factors.Individual factors included gender, age, marital status, education, place of residence,family size, and religion. Drug-related factors included having all the required drugs,challenges with the drugs, the frequency of taking ARV pills, challenges during medicationintake, and accessibility to ARV drugs. Health-related factors encompassed routineeducation and counseling, sources of information, proximity to healthcare facilities,distance from home to the facility, availability of ARVs on appointment days, availability ofhealthcare workers, frequency of ARV refill visits, and waiting time during appointments.The low adherence was attributed to missing doses due to stigma, forgetfulness, drugstockouts, lack of routine education about ART, long distances to healthcare facilities,inadequate information, and extended waiting times.Keywords: HIV, Antiretroviral therapy, Adherence, Youths