Archives of Clinical Case Studies and Case Reports Osain P. Henry, Owonaro Peter, Joshua Eniojukan, Ganiyu Kehinde, Ogon-Barthy Murphy 1Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Pharmacy Practice, Faculty of Pharmacy, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Amassoma, Bayelsa state, Nigeria Research Article * Corresponding author Peter A. Owonaro. Department of Pharmacy Technician Studies, School of Allied Medical Sciences, College of Health Technology, Otuogidi, Ogbia Town, Bayelsa State, Nigeria Received: 23 July 2023 Accepted: 31 July 2023 Published: 08 Aug 2023 Copyright © 2023 Peter A. Owonaro OPEN ACCESS * Volume 4 | Issue 3 | 328 Assessment of factors that affects adherence to Antiretroviral therapy in Health institutions in Bayelsa State, South-South Nigeria Archives of Clinical Case Studies and Case Reports, 2023 BACKGROUND e scourge of HIV was first identified in the 1980s and for almost a de- cade treatment was only symptomatic. e rate of mortality was high due to the unavailability of a cure. e Human-immunodeficiency virus (com- monly called HIV) is a chronic lifelong infection [1,2], that affects the im- mune system of the body with no known cure for now, but medications are available to suppress viral multiplication and to improve the immunity of the body. erefore, Clients that have contracted HIV (People living with HIV – PLWH) should receive medical attention continually for the rest of their lives. ey must also adhere to therapy to ensure they stay healthy. e main course of pharmacotherapy and pharmaceutical care related to HIV patients is the provision of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) [3,4]. Opti- mal application of ART improves Quality of Life (QoL) and increases the years of life for PLWHA. ART also improves the life expectancy of patients [5], and decreases the continuous transmission of HIV [6,7]. e World Health Organization, (WHO) encourages a public health method to ART that encompasses a logically balanced selection of diverse antiretroviral medicines. ese medicines are categorized into first and second-line therapy with third-line or rescue options. ese options are usually sim- plified and standardized for the clinical management of HIV. ey also Abstract Background: ere is a huge cost burden in providing ARV Medicines. It is also important that patients get effective therapy, and the success of treatment is ensured. It is important to optimize the benefits of the limited available drugs to maintain the health of patients and get the maximal benefit of the regimen. Non-adherence ultimately leads to treatment failure. e objective of the study was to evaluate factors that affect adherence to antiret- roviral therapy. Methods: Prospective systematic review of ART clients. e study population consists of patients receiving ART treatment at Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa and Diete Koki (DK) Memorial Hospital Yenagoa. Data were generated from the patients using a well-structured questionnaire that met study objectives and a data collection form to get treatment information from the case file. Ethical approval was obtained as it applies to this study. Data were analyzed with the SPSS computer analytical tool, version 27.0. Results: A total of 531 clients were accessed from two health institutions. Most of the clients are 31-45 years (41.4% FMC, 51.6% DK). More than half of the clients receiving cART were engaged in business or trading which accounted for 58.6% in FMC and 57.8% in DK hospital respectively. e majority had taken the drugs between 2 years and above 5 years (83.3%FMC, 60.2%DK). Most were on an ART regimen, taken once a day (87.3% FMC, 89.8%DK). e majority swallowed at most two tablets a day (40.7%FMC, 49.2%DK). Most had missed taking their medications once or twice a week (32.4% in FMC and 96.1% in DK). Some patients missed clinic visits about 5 times in the last year (25.6% FMC, 28.1% DK) some of them have experienced side effects that made them stop taking medication (11.4% FMC, 23.4% DK). e majority of the patients said they were not told what to do when they experienced these side effects (89.1% FMC, 81.3% DK) Factors that contributed or caused non-adherence to therapy includes poverty (a significant number of clients earned between N5000- N15000 per month (19.9% in FMC and 44.5% in DK hospital), high cost of transportation, missed clinic visits, inadequate counseling, lack of proper follow-up, inability to understand information, drug resistance and ADRs. Conclusion: ere is a significant level of non-adherence by clients in the study as observed in patients missing their medications, clinic visits, and outright stopping taking medication. Proper counseling and follow-up are needed. Keywords: Anti-retroviral, therapy, adherence, Treatment failure, Bayelsa Health facilities *