ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of this quantitative study was to establish the sociodemographic factors associated with adherence among HIV/AIDS patients at Bapong Community Health Centre (CHC) in order to make recommendations to improve adherence to ART.
The researcher distributed 37 self-completion questionnaires to all the 37 patients at the ART clinic at Bapong CHC, all of which were completed. The research population included all the HIV-positive patients attending the Bapong CHC aged eighteen years old and above and were on ART for more than thirty days. Thirty-seven (37) patients were included in the study out of the 1200 patients attending the Bapong CHC by randomly sampling five patient file numbers of the patients attending the ART clinic at the Bapong CHC on a particular day. The study was conducted over a period of four months with data collection and analysis conducted in less than a month, in January 2012.
The researcher found that the numbers in this research study were generally too small with only one statistically significant result, of all the sociodemographic factors that were investigated - that of those whose CD counts were less than 50ml/uL at the start of treatment were more likely to default than those who had higher CD levels (Odds ratio 8.33, p value 0.03 - Fisher exact). Although the other findings were not significant, the study showed findings that were very important to Bapong CHC. Recommendations were made to improve ART adherence, and to conduct another study with larger samples to achieve statistical significant findings.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie kwantitatiewe studie was om die sosiaal-demografiese faktore wat verband hou met die nakoming onder MIV/vigs-pasiënte by die Bapong gemeenskapsgesondheid-sentrum te bepaal, ten einde aanbevelings te maak om die nakoming van anti-retrovirale behandeling te verbeter.
Die navorser het vraelyste aan 37 pasiënte van die anti-retrovirale kliniek by Bapong gemeenskapsgesondheid-sentrum uitgedeel, wat alles voltooi is. Die navorsing gevoer onder al die MIV-positiewe pasiënte van Bapong gemeenskapsgesondheid-sentrum, ouderdom van agtien jaar en ouer en wie vir meer as dertig dae op anti-retrovirale behandeling was.
Die navorser het bevind dat die getalle in die navorsing oor die algemeen te klein was om met slegs 'n statisties betekenisvolle resultaat van al die sosiaal-demografiese faktore wat ondersoek is - wat van diegene wie se CD tellings was minder as 50ml/uL by die aanvang van behandeling was meer geneig om die standaard as dié wat hoër CD vlakke (Odds verhouding 8,33, p waarde 0,03 - Fisher presiese). Alhoewel die ander bevindinge nie betekenisvol was nie, het die studie het bevindinge wat belangrik vir die Bapong gemeenskapsgesondheid-sentrum was. Aanbevelings is gemaak om anti-retrovirale behandeling nakoming te verbeter, en om nog 'n studie te doen met „n groter steekproef om statisties beduidende resultate te bereik.
