[Treatment adhesion and factors affecting it at the Kadutu Clinic (Democratic Republic of the Congo)].

Abstract

The overall objective of this work is to determine the degree of adhesion of adult patients with HIV infection or AIDS to their anti retroviral treatment. We sought to identify all of the obstacles that can impair adhesion so that we could propose some methods of optimizing it. This descriptive cross-sectional survey used a standardized questionnaire, completed by a group of 70 patients aged 15 to 49 years (40 women and 30 men) followed for at least two years as the Opportunistic Infections Clinic of Kadutu. We also interviewed the nursing staff to determine the management of these patients. We measured adhesion with the following variables: regularity of appointments, the likelihood of forgetting doses, and the number of doses not taken per year, per week and per month. Despite good adhesion, patients noted the major points that are likely to impair adhesion, that is, fear of side effects, insufficient meals, difficulty of organising life around the treatment routine, forgetfulness, being with others, the large number of drugs to be taken, and emotional condition. Finally, we note that the adhesion to antiretroviral treatments of patients living with HIV at this clinic was supported by Doctors without Borders in Bukavu in the DRC, which provides free drugs throughout their illness, in a favorable psychosocial environment, and supplies some food to help delay death and improve its circumstances.