Failure to return pillbox is a predictor of being lost to follow-up among people living with HIV on antiretroviral therapy in rural Tanzania.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Pill count is used to assess drug adherence in people living with HIV (PLHIV). Carrying a pillbox is associated with fear of concealment and stigma and might indicate poor adherence and predict someone who will be lost to follow-up (LTFU). We therefore assessed the association between pillbox return and being LTFU in rural Tanzania.

Methods

This is a nested study of the Kilombero and Ulanga Antiretroviral Cohort (KIULARCO). We included PLHIV aged ≥ 18 years enrolled in KIULARCO between January 2013 and March 2019 with follow-up through January 2020, who were on antiretroviral treatment (ART) for ≥ 6 months. Baseline was defined as the latest ART initiation or KIULARCO enrolment. We determined the association between time-dependent failed pillbox return updated at

SUBMITTER: Ndege RC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9306592 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature