Abstract:
Background: Tuberculosis co-infected with human immunodeficiency virus constitutes a large
proportion of patients in Ethiopia. Isoniazid preventive therapy is recommended for treatment of latent
Tuberculosis infection. Non-adherence is the major problem to control tuberculosis. However the
prevalence of adherence and associated factors has not be studied in those HIV positive patients who
were on Isoniazid preventive therapy in public health facilities of Addis Ababa.
Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of adherence to Isoniazid
preventive therapy and associated factors among People living with HIV in Addis Ababa.
Methods: Health facility based cross sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa. 10 health centers
and 2 hospitals were selected randomly from a sampling frame consisted of 24 health centers and 5
hospitals, patients were consecutively recruited till the required sample size was obtained on their exit
to home from Dec 2010 to February 2011. A total of 381 HIV positive patients who were on Isoniazid
preventive therapy were interviewed by trained data collectors. Data were double entered, cleaned, and
analyzed using Epi Info version 3.5 and SPSS version 16.
Result: The prevalence of adherence to Isoniazid preventive therapy was found to be 89.5%.Those
patients who had taken Isoniazid for >=5 months were more likely to be adherents than those who took
1-2 monhts AOR [(95%CI)= 5.091(1.412-18.359)]. Decision that were made by friends for the patients
to start Isoniazid preventive therapy were less likely to be adherent than decision made by the patients
them selves AOR [(95%CI)=0.096(0.011-0.815)]. Among the reasons mentioned by non-adherents for
missing doses were forgetting, out of stock of Isoniazid in the health facilities and side effects.
Conclusion and Recommendation: The prevalence of adherence to Isoniazid preventive therapy in
HIV positive patients was higher than what was reported in Diredawa 84.86% and other Africa
countries. Counseling those patients who are at the beginning of therapy is recommended. Adressing
the reason for non-adherence through strong Information Education Communication is also important
to enhance adherence so as to control Tuberculosis.
