Publications

The World Health Organization (WHO) delineates an Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) as an unintended andharmful response to a drug when it is used for disease prevention, diagnosis, treatment, or physiological functionmodification in humans. This definition specifically excludes therapeutic failures, overdose, drug abuse,noncompliance, and medication errors. The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of ADRs amongHIV/AIDS patients undergoing Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) at Bushenyi Medical Centre,Ishaka-Adventist Hospital, and KIU Teaching Hospital in the Bushenyi district, western Uganda. Patientinterviews were conducted using structured questionnaires. A cohort of 333 patients participated in the study.The investigation revealed a prevalence of ADRs at 13.5% (95% CI: 10.2-17.6). Among the 333 patientsinterviewed, 44 reported experiencing ADRs, with a significant 97.8% of these cases occurring in female patients.Importantly, individuals with co-morbidities had a 55.6-fold higher likelihood of developing ADRs compared tothose without any co-morbid conditions (95% CI: 2.4-1286.7). Furthermore, the study indicated an increasedrisk of ADR development among patients starting HAART within the first year of treatment. In summary, ourfindings highlight the notable prevalence of ADRs among females, emphasizing the need for gender-specificinitiatives to raise awareness and prevent ADRs. Regular monitoring is particularly important for patients withco-morbidities due to the established association between co-medication and susceptibility to ADRs.Additionally, adherence to HAART therapy is essential, as the incidence of ADRs tends to decrease over time.