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Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment in Prisons
The effectiveness of antiretroviral
drugs is closely linked to the degree of adherence.
The prison environment has specific characteristics that may affect
adherence in HIV-positive patients, so that it may not be possible
to extrapolate factors associated with non adherence in HIV positive
patients outside prison.
The objective of the current study
was to analyze the prevalence of non adherence to antiretroviral
treatment in three Spanish prisons, and to examine the relation
between a large group of factors and non adherence to the medication.
A cross-sectional study evaluated
all patients receiving antiretroviral treatment . Adherence was
evaluated using a validated questionnaire (SMAQ).
The prevalence of non adherence was
54.8%, and the factors independently associated with non adherence
were the following:
·
Having
difficulties in taking the medication, feeling completely or largely
unable to follow the medication;
·
Classifying
the food as "bad;"
·
Mentioning
not having anyone concerned for them outside prison;
·
Suffering
anxiety or depression in the last week; and
·
Having
the flexibility of the prison staff opening their cell in the event
of them forgetting their medication.
09-26-05
Reference
J
M Soto Blanco and others. Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment
in Prisons. AIDS Research and Human Retroviruses 21(8): 683-688. August 2005.
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