Mary Ann Davies|Andrew Boulle|Tanzeem Fakir|James Nuttall|Brian Eley
Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in young children in Cape Town, South Africa, measured by medication return and caregiver self-report: a prospective cohort study
Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital|University of Cape Town|University of Cape Town|Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital|University of Cape Town|Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital|University of Cape Town|Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital|University of Cape Town
antiretroviral therapy art dramatically improves outcomes children africa however excellent adherence required treatment success study describes utility different measures adherence detecting lapses infants young children cape town south africa prospective cohort 122 hivinfected children commenced art adherence measured monthly first year treatment medication return mr syrups tabletscapsules questionnaire administered caregivers 3 months treatment assess experience giving medication selfreported adherence viral immune response treatment assessed end one year associations measured adherence determined medication returned 115122 94 children median age iqr 37 16 61 months ninetyone 79 children achieved annual average mr adherence 90 important covariate associated viral suppression adjustment disease severity 55 95ci 08356 p 0075 however associated immunological response art 3 months art 13 10 children deceased 11 10 lost followup questionnaires completed 8798 90 caregivers remained care sensitivity poor reported adherence missing 1 dose previous 3 days mr adherence 90 318 95 ci 107 530 caregivers 3387 384 children reported difficulties giving medication commonly poor palatability 218 independent sociodemographic predictors mr adherence 90 secondary education caregivers 449 95ci 110 1824 access water electricity 265 95ci 093 755 taking ritonavir negatively associated mr adherence 90 037 95ci 013 102 excellent adherence art possible african infants young children relatively simple low technology measure adherence mr strongly predicts viral response better socioeconomic status palatable regimens associated better adherence