Abstract:
With the introduction of antiretroviral therapy (ART), many HIV-infected children are growing into adolescence and
adulthood. A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted at the Fevers Unit of one of the teaching hospitals
in Ghana. The Morisky Medication Adherence Scale (MMAS-8) and pill count were used to assess adherence, while
measured viral load levels of participants were used to assess viral suppression. The rate of viral suppression (<400
copies/ml) was 68.2%. Participants with high MMAS-8 scores were 8.4 times more likely to be virally suppressed
compared to those with low MMAS-8 scores (OR = 8.4, p = 0.003, 95% CI: 2.11–33.48). The commonest reason for
missing doses of their antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) was forgetfulness. Efforts must be made by all stakeholders
involved in HIV care to engage adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYALHIV) on personal and/or group
levels to help identify and improve particular ART adherence issues so as to increase viral suppression rates.
