Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence and Associated Factors Among Hiv Patients Aged 10--15: A Cross-Sectional Study at Five Hospitals in Vietnam

Introduction: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) plays an important role in treatment efficiency. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adolescents face many challenges in terms of their adherence to HIV treatment. Objectives: (1) To evaluate the ART adherence rate among HIV-infected adolescents aged 10--15 years at five hospitals in Vietnam and (2) to investigate the factors associated with ART adherence. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 618 HIV patients aged 10--15 years receiving ARV treatment at five hospitals from May 2020 to October 2021. Data were collected through quarterly structured interviews and periodic medical record reviews. Adherence to the ART was assessed following the WHO classification. Adherence is defined as good if it is ≥95%, as documented by the ART healthcare provider. Results: The overall adherence rate was low (62.4%), and the most common reason for nonadherence was a lack of drugs at the check-up. A waiting time for ARV treatment of less than 1 month after diagnosis [OR=1.85; 95% CI (1.15–2.94)]; [OR=2.38; 95% CI (1.31–4.35)], and patients whose caregiver demonstrated occasional fatigue [OR=1.59 (1.04–2.44)] were significantly associated with ART nonadherence. Conclusion: Increased efforts should be dedicated to psychological preparation, pre-ARV counseling for patients, and support their families and caregivers to improve adherence to treatment.