Antiretroviral Treatment Compliance in the Wenlou Village of Henan Province: A Case Study in Rural China

Abstract

Objectives : Compliances of the antiretroviral (ARV) therapy in a rural village in central China were analyzed in an effort to assess and improve the efficacy of the ARV therapies in resource-poor regions.

Methods : Compliance surveys and follow-up visits were conducted with 271 AIDS patients who are under the National Free Antiretroviral Treatment Plan in the Wenlou Village Clinic in the Lugang town of the Shangcai County in the Henan Province.

Results : The noncompliance rate of taking ARV drugs on schedule was 31 % (84/271) and the noncompliance rate of taking the ARV drug dosages correctly was 11 %. The total ARV drug therapy noncompliance rate was 42 %, which mainly resulted from the difficulties to adhere to the daily drug-taking schedules and the severe side effects of the ARV drugs. The study also found that 69.7 % of the noncompliant patients were unwilling to take the drugs during the Chinese New Year holidays; 65.6 % of those patients cited the difficulties of taking the drugs while laboring long hours in their farm field; and 55.4 % of them simply forgot to take the drugs. Working far away from home was also reported to be attributed to about 10 % of the noncompliance.

Conclusion : In order to improve the compliance of the ARV therapy, more public awareness is required. In addition, providing ARV drugs with less side effects and that are easier to take would be highly desirable.