Assessment of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence and Factors Affecting It Among HIV Patients in Delta State

Sustained adherence to antiretroviral therapy is critical for viral suppression and preventing the emergence of HIV drug resistance. This study assessed antiretroviral therapy adherence and its determinants among adult HIV patients attending antiretroviral treatment clinics at three hospitals in Delta State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 220 patients receiving first-line antiretroviral therapy for at least six months. Adherence was measured using the visual analogue scale and pharmacy refill records. A structured questionnaire captured sociodemographic characteristics, treatment duration, drug regimen, pill burden, side effects, and barriers to adherence. Results showed that 64.5 percent of patients demonstrated optimal adherence, defined as taking 95 percent or more of prescribed doses. The most frequently reported barriers to adherence were pill burden (41.8 percent), fear of inadvertent disclosure of HIV status (38.6 percent), and drug side effects (33.6 percent). Patients enrolled in peer support groups had significantly higher adherence rates than those without peer support (p < 0.01). Employment status and distance from clinic were additional significant determinants. The study concludes that adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Delta State remains suboptimal in a significant proportion of patients, and recommends peer support programme expansion, regimen simplification through integration of fixed-dose combination therapies, and community-level distribution to reduce clinic attendance burden. Keywords: antiretroviral therapy, HIV adherence, viral suppression, Delta State, South South Nigeria