Background: Adherence to option B+antiretroviral therapy medication is crucial for the effective implementation of the Prevention of Mother-to-Child Transmission (PMTCT) programme. Ethiopia has adopted the WHO's target of achieving over 95% adherence. However, research conducted in southern Ethiopia found that only 81.4% of women adhered to option B+medication, which reflects a poor level of adherence and remains a concern.
Objective: The objective of the study was to assess the level of option B+PMTCT drug adherence and associated factors among women who were breast feeding for up to 18 months in government health facilities of North Gojjam Zone, Amhara region, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022 DESIGN: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted.
Setting: The study was carried out in hospitals located in the North Gojjam Zone of Northwest Ethiopia.
Participants: The study was conducted with 223 HIV-positive women who were breast feeding for up to 18 months, from 1 March 2022 to 30 April 2022.
Primary and secondary outcomes: The primary outcome was to assess the level of option B+PMTCT drug adherence, while the secondary outcome was to identify factors associated with option B+PMTCT drug adherence among HIV-positive women who were breast feeding for up to 18 months. Associations between variables were analysed using both bivariate and multivariable logistic regression models, with a p<0.05 considered statistically significant at the 95% confidence level.
Results: A total of 223 participants were included, yielding a response rate of 97.8%. The adherence to option B+PMTCT drugs was 62.8%. The type of health facility (adjusted OR, AOR=0.17 (95% CI: 0.008 to 0.35)), partner support involvement (AOR=3.03 (95% CI: 1.12 to 9.13)) and the time taken to reach the facility from home (AOR=6.34 (95% CI: 2.92 to 13.75)) were significantly associated with the level of option B+PMTCT drug adherence.
Conclusion: Option B+PMTCT drug adherence was lower than the recommended level. The type of health facility, partner support and the time required to travel from home to the facility were factors associated with adherence to option B+PMTCT medication. Support from a partner is crucial for improving adherence to option B+medication.
Keywords: Adolescent; Caregivers; Child; Chronic Disease; Community-Based Participatory Research; Cross-Sectional Studies.
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