Others*: Mossi, Gonja, Frafra, Builsa, Waala, Kasina, Ga, Dagarti, Fante, Ashanti, Ewe, Hausa, Bimoba, Zabarma. Data were collected from three hospitals in the Tamale Metropolis (Ghana): Tamale Teaching Hospital, Tamale Central Hospital, and Tamale West Hospital. The study period was from November 2023 to February 2024.
Declarations
Acknowledgments
The authors thank the study participants for their time and the hospital workers and management of the ART/STI clinic for their support.
Author contributions
FGAS: Conceptualization, Methodology, Formal analysis, Data curation, Investigation, Writing—original draft, Writing—review & editing. UH: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Writing—review & editing. AA: Writing—review & editing. GAA: Conceptualization, Methodology, Validation, Writing—review & editing. All authors read and approved the submitted version.
Conflicts of interest
The authors have reported no conflicts of interest.
Ethical approval
Ethics committees at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (reference TTHERC/20/11/23/01) and Ghana Health Service (GHS-ERC:053/09/23) provided ethics approval, respectively. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.
Consent to participate
Every participant in the study provided written, informed consent.
Consent to publication
Not applicable.
Availability of data and materials
Upon a reasonable request, the corresponding author can supply the data sets used in the current work.
Open Exploration maintains a neutral stance on jurisdictional claims in published institutional affiliations and maps. All opinions expressed in this article are the personal views of the author(s) and do not represent the stance of the editorial team or the publisher.
References
Tseng A, Seet J, Phillips EJ. The evolution of three decades of antiretroviral therapy: challenges, triumphs and the promise of the future.Br J Clin Pharmacol. 2015;79:182–94. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Orlando S, Silaghi LA, Cicala M, Lowole MW, Massango C, Lunghi R, et al. The global response to HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa: achievements, challenges, and perspectives for the future.Front Public Health. 2025;13:1665666. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Bekker LG, Alleyne G, Baral S, Cepeda J, Daskalakis D, Dowdy D, et al. Advancing global health and strengthening the HIV response in the era of the Sustainable Development Goals: the International AIDS Society—Lancet Commission.Lancet. 2018;392:312–58. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Moyo E, Moyo P, Murewanhema G, Mhango M, Chitungo I, Dzinamarira T. Key populations and Sub-Saharan Africa's HIV response.Front Public Health. 2023;11:1079990. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Prah J, Hayfron-Benjamin A, Abdulai M, Lasim O, Nartey Y, Obiri-Yeboah D. Factors Affecting Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among HIV/AIDS Patients in Cape Coast Metropolis, Ghana.J HIV AIDS. 2018;4. [DOI]
Heestermans T, Browne JL, Aitken SC, Vervoort SC, Klipstein-Grobusch K. Determinants of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive adults in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.BMJ Glob Health. 2016;1:e000125. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Addo MK, Aboagye RG, Tarkang EE. Factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV/AIDS patients in the Ga West Municipality, Ghana.IJID Reg. 2022;3:218–25. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Tuot S, Sim JW, Nagashima-Hayashi M, Chhoun P, Teo AKJ, Prem K, et al. What are the determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among stable people living with HIV? A cross-sectional study in Cambodia.AIDS Res Ther. 2023;20:47. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Buh A, Deonandan R, Gomes J, Krentel A, Oladimeji O, Yaya S. Prevalence and factors associated with HIV treatment non-adherence among people living with HIV in three regions of Cameroon: A cross-sectional study.PLOS ONE. 2023;18:e0283991. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Abdulai MA, Mevissen FEF, Ruiter RAC, Owusu‐Agyei S, Asante KP, Bos AER. A qualitative analysis of factors influencing antiretroviral adherence among persons living with HIV in Ghana.J Community Appl Soc Psychol. 2021;32:135–50. [DOI]
Tarkang EE, Manu E, Aku FY, Anaman-Torgbor J, Khuzwayo N. Sociodemographic and health systems determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among human immunodeficiency virus-positive patients in the Volta Region of Ghana: A multi-centre study.SAGE Open Med. 2024;12:20503121241229056. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Ghana AIDS Commission. 2020 HIV and AIDS Estimates and Projections. Ghana AIDS Commission; 2020.
Abubakari A, Issah H, Mutaka MAO, Asumah MN. Determinants of Virological Failure in HIV Patients on Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART): A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study in the Upper East Region of Ghana.Venereology. 2023;2:16–29. [DOI]
Atanuriba GA, Apiribu F, Dzomeku VM, Amooba PA, Boamah Mensah AB, Afaya RA, et al. “Some believe those who say they can cure it” perceived barriers to antiretroviral therapy for children living with HIV/AIDS: Qualitative exploration of caregivers experiences in tamale metropolis.PLOS ONE. 2022;17:e0275529. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Cochran WG. Sampling Techniques. 3rd ed. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1991.
Simelane TP. Socio-demographic factors affecting adherence to antiretroviral therapy in a wellness centre in South Africa [dissertation]. Potchefstroom: North-West University (South Africa); 2019.
Safira N, Lubis R, Fahdhy M. Factors Affecting Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy.KnE Life Sci. 2018;4:60. [DOI]
Loveday M, Furin J, Hlangu S, Naidoo T. “I am alive because of her”: factors affecting adherence to combination antiretroviral therapy among people living with HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.BMC Infect Dis. 2022;22:680. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Opara HC, Iheanacho PN, Nebo B, Ingwu JA, Anetekhai CJ, Anarado AN. Factors affecting adherence to anti-retroviral therapy among women attending HIV clinic of a tertiary health institution in SouthEastern, Nigeria.Afr Health Sci. 2022;22:456–64. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Aduloju T. Psychosocial Factors Affecting Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among Persons Living with HIV/AIDS in Ekiti State: A Multicentre Study.Niger Stethosc. 2023;5:26–34.
O’Connell KA, Sherani S, Kisteneff A, Bhat K, Slater J, Klein CF, et al. Factors Affecting Adherence With Follow-up Appointments in HIV Patients.Cureus. 2022;14:e29424. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Anyaike C, Atoyebi OA, Musa OI, Bolarinwa OA, Durowade KA, Ogundiran A, et al. Adherence to combined Antiretroviral therapy (cART) among people living with HIV/AIDS in a Tertiary Hospital in Ilorin, Nigeria.Pan Afr Med J. 2019;32:10. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Almeida PRS, Rafael CAC, Pimentel V, Abecasis AB, Sebastião CS, Morais J. Adherence to antiretroviral therapy among HIV-1 patients from sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review.Aids Rev. 2024;26:102–10. [DOI] [PubMed]
Eze RA, Sulaiman N, Mat Daud Z', Babadoko A. Association Between Belief in Medicine and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Human Immunodeficiency Virus Adults in Zaira, Kaduna State, Nigeria.Cureus. 2023;15:e36489. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Kalungwe M, Mbalinda SN, Karonga T, Simwanza NR, Mumba Mtambo CM, Nyashanu M. Exploring barriers to antiretroviral therapy adherence among pregnant women: A scoping literature review.Int J Gynecol Obstet. 2022;159:343–50. [DOI] [PubMed]
Adeniyi OV, Ajayi AI, Ter Goon D, Owolabi EO, Eboh A, Lambert J. Factors affecting adherence to antiretroviral therapy among pregnant women in the Eastern Cape, South Africa.BMC Infect Dis. 2018;18:175. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Ejigu M, Desalegn Z, Mulatu B, Mosisa G. Adherence to Combined Antiretroviral Therapy and Associated Factors Among People Living with HIV Attending Nekemte Specialized Hospital, Oromia, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.HIV/AIDS - Res Palliat Care. 2020;12:97–106. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Ankomah A, Ganle JK, Lartey MY, Kwara A, Nortey PA, Okyerefo MP, et al. ART access-related barriers faced by HIV-positive persons linked to care in southern Ghana: a mixed method study.BMC Infect Dis. 2016;16:738. [DOI] [PubMed] [PMC]
Yusuf AB. Adherence to ART among HIV infected female sex workers in Nigeria [dissertation]. Minneapolis (MN): Walden University; 2019.
Chime OH, Arinze-Onyia SU, Obionu CN. Do peer support groups have an effect on medication adherence? A study among people living with HIV/AIDS in Enugu State, Nigeria.Proc Singap Healthc. 2018;27:256–64. [DOI]
Sánchez Peña S, Pastor Bravo MDM, Cánovas Tomás MÁ, Almansa-Martínez P, Peñalver Guillen C, Jiménez-Ruiz I. Factores relacionados con la adherencia al tratamiento antirretroviral en mujeres con VIH: Un estudio mixto con diseño secuencial.Enferm Glob. 2021;20:1–34. [DOI]
