From:  Clinical and health system factors associated with antiretroviral therapy adherence among people living with HIV and AIDS: cross-sectional survey insights from three ART facilities in Tamale, Ghana

 Medication-related factors affecting ART adherence.

StatementFrequency (n)Percentage (%)
I take too many pills.
Agree4911.7
Disagree36988.3
The pills are too big.
Agree16339.0
Disagree25561.0
The smell of the pills puts me off.
Agree307.2
Disagree38892.8
I would prefer an injection instead of pills.
Agree29069.4
Disagree12830.6
My energy is reduced/I feel fatigued when I take my ARVs.
Agree337.9
Disagree38592.1
I feel severe headaches when I take my medications.
Agree215.0
Disagree39795.0
When I take my medication, I experience preferences for certain food types.
Agree6415.3
Disagree35484.7
Taking my ARVs makes me feel sick.
Agree235.5
Disagree39594.5
I hear voices when I take my ARVs.
Agree143.3
Disagree40496.7
I am faced with hunger and lack of food because ARVs make me have an increased appetite.
Agree18043.1
Disagree23856.9
I lose my appetite when I take ARVs.
Agree215.0
Disagree39795.0
Taking ARVs has caused me to have lipodystrophy.
Agree133.1
Disagree40596.9
I experience nausea/vomiting when I take my ARVs.
Agree4210.0
Disagree37690.0
I get diarrhoea when I take my ARVs.
Agree225.3
Disagree39694.7
I have trouble sleeping when I take my ARVs.
Agree296.9
Disagree38993.1
I feel numbness in my hands and legs when I take my ARVs.
Agree8219.6
Disagree33680.4
I get rash or hypersensitivity when I take my ARVs.
Agree256.0
Disagree39394.0
I experience signs and symptoms of anaemia.
Agree194.5
Disagree39995.5
The duration and number of times I take my medications affect my treatment adherence.
Agree4410.5
Disagree37489.5
I adhere to ART despite side effects.
Agree24257.9
Disagree17642.1
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Responses were binary (Agree/Disagree). ARV: antiretroviral