Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in HIV/AIDS Infected Individuals: Reasons for Non-Adherence in the Hiv-Positive Population of the Northeastern of Romania

Rezumat

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is one of the main focuses regarding HIV/ AIDS in the world at the present time. Numerous studies have identified a wide arrange of factors influencing adherence, from psychological aspects such as depression or poor self-efficacy, to medical aspects such as treatment fatigue, pill burden, side-effects, and also social support, stigma, discrimination, lack of knowledge or lack of access to medical care. The research aims to highlight the main reasons HIV-positive patients from Moldova have for non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy. After studying retrospectively psychological evaluation records of patients hospitalized in the HIV/AIDS Regional Center Iasi, between January 2013 and January 2015, we identified the main reasons invoked for non-adherence: fear of disclosure, related to the posibility of being rejected and stigmatized; “treatment fatigue”, manifested through forgetfulness, postponing, due to the emotional impact of taking medication; self-management and self-efficacy, or lack of, enhanced also by the lack of propper information or understanding of the disease; medication side-effects; and also, in some cases, poor economic status, substance abuse, depression. The unique characteristics of the HIV-positive population in Romania make adressing problems of adherence a complex process. Having a holistic approach on the difficulties patients face in taking their medication may facilitate intervention and enhance adhrence, proving beneficial for both the individual and the community.