International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health | October 2022 | Vol 9 | Issue 10 Page 3878
International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health
Luke A et al. Int J Community Med Public Health. 2022 Oct;9(10):3878-3888
http://www.ijcmph.com
pISSN 2394-6032 | eISSN 2394-6040
Review Article
Self-reported adherence to HIV/AIDS management and associated
factors among gender-groups at a referral treatment centre in Port
Harcourt, Nigeria
Anwuri Luke
1
*, Golden Owhonda
2
, Charles Tobin-West
3
INTRODUCTION
Gender, a society’s shared belief in the socio-cultural,
psychological, economic and behavioural traits that
distinguish males from females has shown to play a vital
role in defining differences in human immunodeficiency
virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS)
management.
1
These disparities ascertain how gender
influences the spread of HIV, access and adherence to
HIV/AIDS management. A greater proportion of the
ABSTRACT
The self-reported method of assessing adherence levels among human immuno-deficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients
is the most commonly applied measure, despite its limitations with recall bias and overestimation of outcome variables.
This study determined the levels of self-reported adherence to HIV/AIDS management and its associated factors among
gender groups at a referral treatment centre in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. This cross-sectional study was conducted among
HIV-positive adults attending the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital between September 2020 to November
2020. Systematic sampling technique was employed to select eligible participants using a 7-item brief medication self-
reporting tool. Data was analysed with statistical package for social science (SPSS) version-25. Test of association was
measured using Pearson’s Chi-square and spearman rho rank tests, set at a significance level of p<0.05 and 95%
confidence interval. Confounding variables were controlled using multiple logistic regression analysis. 1600
participants; females (800), and males (800) were recruited. The mean age and standard deviation reported were; male
(44.53±10.50), female (40.58±9.34). The mean self-reported optimal adherence levels observed were; male (98.7±6.4)
and female (97.3±10.0). The significant variables associated with self-reported adherence levels were revealed only
among the male group; religion (aOR=0.076; 95% CI=0.024-0.239; p<0.001), level of education (aOR=0.451; 95%
CI=0.213-0.955; p=0.038), and non-payment for HIV support services (aOR=4.105; 95% CI; 1.712-9.792; p<0.001).
The male group self-reported better optimal adherence than the female group. Also, the associated factors to self-
reported adherence were only significant among the male group. Therefore, robust adherence counselling should be
targeted at improving adherence among the female gender.
Keywords: Self-reported adherence, HIV/AIDS management, Associated factors, Gender-groups, Referral treatment
centre
1
Department of Community Medicine, College of Medical Sciences,
2
Department of Public Health and Disease Control,
Rivers State Ministry of Health, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
3
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Rivers State, Nigeria
Received: 26 July 2022
Revised: 05 September 2022
Accepted: 16 September 2022
*Correspondence:
Dr. Anwuri Luke,
E-mail: ndimekz2010@gmail.com
Copyright: © the author(s), publisher and licensee Medip Academy. This is an open-access article distributed under
the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial
use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20222584