*Principal, Sonagachi Research and Training Institute, 44 Balaram Dey Street, Kolkata, 700006, India
**Sr. Medical Officer, Sonagachi Research and Training Institute, Kolkata, India
***Director, Institute of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of West Bengal, Kolkata, 700091, India
****Hon. Senior Lecturer, University of Manchester, Consultant Physician in Genitourinary Medicine, Warrington & Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Online published on 4 March, 2016.
Access Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy A community based antiretroviral (ART) drugs adherence study was conducted in Kolkata, India beginning in January and concluding in March 2011. This study was designed to explore the level of adherence as well as factors influencing adherence to ART by those who are receiving treatment through a public health care delivery system. This health care system is implemented through the National AIDS Control Program in the state of West Bengal, India. The research findings showed a high degree of non-adherence, between 48–52%, among the ART recipients. Analysis highlights a number of key factors negatively influencing adherence including long waiting time at the ART center, distance from residence to ART Centre, travel related expenditure, and fear of being identified as HIV + to family members and neighbours. Some positive influences were identified in the data as well. If a person is a member of a positive people network there is a greater chance for adherence as well as if an individual self-identifies as positive to others. However, no single factor, rather a combination of several factors, proved to be responsible in influencing ART adherence among recipients.
HIV+ individuals, ART, Adherence, Network
