Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy (Art) among Pregnant Women Living with HIV/AIDS in Okigwe Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The antiretroviral medication (ART) compliance of expectant HIV/AIDS patients in Nigeria's Okigwe Imo state was investigated in this study. In particular, the study established the prevalence of HIV among expectant mothers in Okigwe Imo State, Nigeria, identified the behavioral and demographic factors associated with ART adherence, and looked at the obstacles to ART use among expectant mothers in Okigwe Imo State, Nigeria. The study adopted the AIDS risk reduction model by Catania  and Coates, (1990), the pathway of survival model theory by Mosley and Chen (1984) and the health belief model by Rosenstock et al (1950). From the responses obtained and analysed, the findings revealed that the extent of the prevalence of HIV among pregnant women in Okigwe Imo State, Nigeria is low. Also, the findings revealed that there is a significant relationship between demography and ART adherence among pregnant women in Okigwe Imo State, Nigeria. The findings further revealed that there is a significant relationship between behaviour and ART adherence among pregnant women in Okigwe Imo State, Nigeria. The study therefore recommends that PMTCT services should be accessible to every pregnant woman attending antenatal care, either onsite or through a referral to a nearby clinic, to improve coverage. When it comes to locating PMTCT facilities, using a geographic information system can help eliminate inequity and enhance accessibility within states.