Risk Factors for Non-Adherence to cART in Immigrants with HIV Living in the Netherlands: Results from the ROtterdam ADherence

• Published in: PloS one 2016-10, Vol.11 (10)
• Main Authors: Been, Sabrina K, van de Vijver, David A. M. C, Nieuwkerk, Pythia T, Brito, Inês, Stutterheim, Sarah E, Bos, Arjan E. R, Wolfers, Mireille E. G, Pogány, Katalin, Verbon, Annelies
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: HIV; HIV carriers discrimination; Immigrants; Patient compliance; Risk factors; RNA; Social aspects; Surveys
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0162800

In the Netherlands, immigrant people living with HIV (PLWH) have poorer psychological and treatment outcomes than Dutch PLWH. This cross-sectional field study examined risk factors for non-adherence to combination Antiretroviral Therapy (cART) among immigrant PLWH. First and second generation immigrant PLWH attending outpatient clinics at two HIV-treatment centers in Rotterdam were selected for this study. Socio-demographic and clinical characteristics for all eligible participants were collected from an existing database. Trained interviewers subsequently completed questionnaires together with consenting participants (n = 352) to gather additional data on socio-demographic characteristics, psychosocial variables, and self-reported adherence to cART. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted among 301 participants who had used cART [greater than or equal to]6 months prior to inclusion. Independent risk factors for self-reported non-adherence were (I) not having attended formal education or only primary school (OR = 3.25; 95% CI: 1.28-8.26, versus University), (II) experiencing low levels of social support (OR = 2.56; 95% CI: 1.37-4.82), and (III) reporting low treatment adherence self-efficacy (OR = 2.99; 95% CI: 1.59-5.64). Additionally, HIV-RNA >50 copies/ml and internalized HIV-related stigma were marginally associated (P