Page 134 - GHES-3-1

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Adherence to ART among HIV patients in Cameroon

Table 6. Multivariate analysis of factors associated with poor Table 6. (Continued)
adherence to ART
Explanatory variables AOR (95% CI) p‑value
Explanatory variables AOR (95% CI) p‑value Recourse to traditional treatment for recovery
Sex No 1
Female 1 Yes 1.23 (0.22 – 7.53) 0.806
Male 0.44 (0.16 – 1.16) 0.104 Limited opening hours for HIV-related services
Marital status No 1
Single 1 Yes 9.27 (1.05 – 15.09) 0.0002 ***
Married 0.2 (0.03 – 0.9) 0.147 Discomfort when taking medication
Separated/divorced 1.07 (0.21 – 3.21) 0.996 No 1
Widow/widower 0.4 (0.11 – 3.77) 0.989 Yes 2.17 (0.19 – 8.1) 0.002 **
Profession Difficulties getting used to therapy
Student/pupil 1.75 (0.38 – 7.84) 0.460 No 1
Jobless 1 Yes 0.37 (0.05 – 1.98) 0.271
Informal sector 0.6 (0.09 – 3.41) 0.570 Duration of ART (years)
Private sector 0.8 (0.11 – 4.77) 0.854 >10 4.71 (1.17 – 12.26) 0.991
Public sector 3.82 (0.58 – 28.08) 0.168 1 – 5 1
Educational level 6 – 10 0.55 (0.01 – 1.18) 0.455
Primary 1 <1 2.68 (1.54 – 4.48) 0.0047 **
Secondary 1.50 (0.16 – 15.4) 0.714 Taking the tablets is a reminder of unwanted HIV status
University 2.08 (0.2 – 21.1) 0.521 No 1
Household financial income per month (CFA Franc) Yes 2.74 (0.55 – 14.5) 0.222
<100,000 1.73 (0.44 – 7.21) 0.433 Taking treatment other than ART
100,000 – 300,000 4.31 (0.82 – 22.3) 0.078 No 1
>400,000 2.67 (0.65 – 15.3) 0.607 Yes 1.66 (0.41 – 7.49) 0.485
I do not know 1 Using reminder tools for therapy
Missed an appointment at the HIV care unit last month No 1
No 1 Yes 2.01 (1.67 – 9.24) 0.019 *
Yes 3.93 (1.80 – 8.88) 0.0007 *** Notes: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001.
Excitant/cigarette consumption Abbreviations: AOR: Odds ratio adjusted; CI: Confidence interval;
No 1 HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus; ART: Antiretroviral therapy.
Occasionally 9.86 (0.9 – 25.7) 0.001 ** In addition, fear of HIV status disclosure was
Yes 3.85 (0.33 – 29.7) 0.992 significantly associated with poor adherence to ART, similar
Frequent traveler to findings reported by Sánchez Peña et al. (2021) in Spain,
No 1 Do et al. (2010) in Botswana, and Villiera et al. (2022) in
Yes 2.33 (0.75 – 7.03) 0.131 Malawiet. This fear may be attributed to social isolation
Very busy and a sense of shame among PLHIV. This can lead to a
No 1 deterioration in self-esteem and self-confidence, which can
Yes 1.38 (0.29 – 6.73) 0.680 compromise motivation to follow treatment regularly. The
Fear of disclosure of HIV status fear of being judged or rejected by others can also create an
No 1 additional barrier to treatment adherence because patients
may fear being stigmatized if they are seen taking their
Yes 8.14 (1.42 – 75.2) 0.035 * medication or if they have to visit specialized care centers.
Turn to a pastor for healing Fear of disclosure may also influence patients’ behavior
No 1 regarding treatment management. Some individuals may
Yes 0.25 (0.04 – 1.07) 0.075 be reluctant to carry their medications in public, for fear
(Cont’d...) of being identified as a PLHIV, leading to missed doses

Volume 3 Issue 1 (2025) 126 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.4077