Abstract

This research aimed to assess the factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral therapy
(ART) among HIV-positive youth patients attending the ART Clinic in Kiryandongo General
Hospital, Kiryandongo District. The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional research
design, with a sample of 355 respondents between the ages of 10 and 25 who were
receiving antiretroviral treatment. The study found a low level of adherence to
antiretroviral treatment (33%), significantly lower than the national target of 90%.
Adherence was influenced by various individual, drug-related, and healthcare factors.
Individual factors included gender, age, marital status, education, place of residence,
family size, and religion. Drug-related factors included having all the required drugs,
challenges with the drugs, the frequency of taking ARV pills, challenges during medication
intake, and accessibility to ARV drugs. Health-related factors encompassed routine
education and counseling, sources of information, proximity to healthcare facilities,
distance from home to the facility, availability of ARVs on appointment days, availability of
healthcare workers, frequency of ARV refill visits, and waiting time during appointments.
The low adherence was attributed to missing doses due to stigma, forgetfulness, drug
stockouts, lack of routine education about ART, long distances to healthcare facilities,
inadequate information, and extended waiting times.
Keywords: HIV, Antiretroviral therapy, Adherence, Youths