Abstract:
This study assessed the determinants of HIV status disclosure and compliance to antiretroviral therapy (ART) medication. The main objective was to explore whether background characteristics affect disclosure of HIV status and compliance to medication, and whether status disclosure affects compliance to medication. The Health Belief Model provided the framework from which various linkages between the two variables being studied and conceptual issues were examined. The study was conducted among 83 Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) who were on ART medication at the Nsawam Government Hospital within the Nsawam- Adoagyiri Municipality. Respondents in the study were 58 PLWHA who had disclosed their status and 25 PLWHA who had not disclosed their status. Respondents completed a questionnaire regarding status disclosure and compliance to medication. In general, respondents who had disclosed their HIV status had optimal compliance to medication more than those who had not disclosed their status. The relationship between status disclosure and compliance was found to be statistically significant at a 0.05 significant level. Apart from respondents’ gender which was found to have a significant relationship with compliance to medication, other socio-demographic variables were found not to have a significant relationship with either status disclosure or compliance. Respondents’ opinion on the importance of disclosing their HIV status and barriers preventing status disclosure were also assessed and the findings discussed with relevant literature. In summary, recommendations to improve medication compliance among PLWHA were provided: To begin with, an all- out campaign by government and stakeholders to join efforts to sensitize people on HIV/AIDS and advocate the concerns of PLWHA was proposed. Secondly, it was proposed that communication strategies of health workers must be improved to assist PLWHA struggling with compliance to ART medication. Additionally, NGO’s and all stakeholders were admonished to strengthen structures and platforms for promoting the welfare of PLWHA. Lastly, it was recommended that stricter enforcement of legal provisions regarding infractions committed against PLWHA must be upheld by administrative and government policies. The recommendations were made with the need for encouraging status disclosure emphasized as it enhances compliance to medication.
