182487 Social predictors of adherence to antiretroviral treatment among Dallas area HIV+ African-American women

Monday, October 27, 2008

Kristen A. Hahn, BA , Department of Epidemiology, University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health, Fort Worth, TX
Rachael S. Jackson , Center for Community Health, Fort Worth, TX
Kathryn Cardarelli, PhD , Center for Community Health, Fort Worth, TX
Theresa Barton, MD , University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
Betty Cabrera , Dallas Family Access Network, University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, TX
Background:

Inadequate adherence to antiretroviral drugs among HIV+ patients can potentially lead to resistant strains of the virus and decreased quality of life. The aim of this study was to determine the social predictors of adherence to treatment among African-American women in the Dallas Family Access Network (DFAN).

Methods:

Face-to-face surveys were conducted with a convenience sample of 85 HIV+ African-American female patients collected from 4 DFAN clinic sites in 2007. Self-reported adherence ("Thinking about the last week, how often have you not taken your medicine?") and measures of social support, religiosity, acculturation, and ethnic identity were obtained from each of the participants.

Results:

Of the surveyed women, 48% (N=41) reported missing one or more doses of medication during the previous week. Logistic regression analysis indicated that for every one point increase in the social support scale (i.e., a weaker support system) the odds of adherence to treatment decreased by 11% (95% CI: 0.50, 1.60). Further analysis of the results will detail additional social predictors of adherence to treatment.

Conclusions:

Identification of social predictors of adherence to treatment will inform care providers and public health professionals on how to encourage successful medication practices, thereby improving the quality of life of the patient and decreasing the incidence of resistant strains of HIV.

Learning Objectives:
Assess the impact of social predictors on adherence to antiretroviral treatment by HIV+ African-American women. Evaluate ways to lower social barriers and increase adherence to treatment, thereby improving quality of life.

Keywords: Adherence, Health Disparities

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the person who primarily was responsible for the writing and data analysis of the abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

See more of: Perspectives in Reproductive Health: Youth, Women, HIV/AIDS/STI (POSTER II)
See more of: APHA-Student Assembly