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Examination of the Role of Religious and Psychosocial Factors in HIV Medication Adherence Rates

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Abstract

Optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is associated with favorable HIV outcomes, including higher CD4 cell counts, HIV virus suppression and a lower risk of HIV transmission. However, only 25% of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) in the USA are virally suppressed. Sub-optimal adherence (<90–95%) contributes to antiretroviral resistance and worse medical outcomes, including more rapid progression to AIDS and death. Psychosocial factors and religion/spirituality (R/S) have a significant impact on ART adherence, but the findings are mixed. The purpose of this study was to examine religious and psychosocial correlates and predictors of ≥90% ART adherence in PLWH. A cross-sectional study was conducted with a sample of 292 outpatient PLWH in the Southeastern USA. Participants completed computerized surveys. The mean ART adherence percentage was 80.9% and only about half reported ≥90% adherence. There were statistically significant differences in ART adherence rates based on age, depressive symptom status and frequency of religious attendance and prayer. Praying at least once a day was significantly associated with ≥90% ART adherence (OR = 2.26, 95% CI [1.06–4.79], p < 0.05). Social support satisfaction was also significantly associated with ART adherence (OR = 1.52, 95% CI [1.11–2.08], p < 0.05) and energy/fatigue/vitality (OR = 1.03, 95% CI [1.00–1.05], p < 0.05).

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Acknowledgement

This research was supported by a grant from The John Templeton Foundation supporting Dr. George Dalmida’s postdoctoral fellowship in Religion and Health research at Duke University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Capstone College of Nursing, The University of Alabama, 650 University Blvd, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Safiya George Dalmida

  2. School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Washington, Bothell, WA, USA

    Katryna McCoy

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA

    Harold G. Koenig

  4. Department of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Harold G. Koenig

  5. College of Health Sciences, Walden University, Minneapolis, MN, USA

    Aretha Miller

  6. Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Marcia McDonnell Holstad, Terri Fleming & Menka Munira Wirani

  7. Nicole Werthiem College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Florida International University, Miami, FL, USA

    Tami Thomas

  8. College of Nursing, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA

    Dora Clayton-Jones

  9. Duke University, Durham, NC, USA

    Mary Grant

  10. College of Education, The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA

    George Mugoya

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  1. Safiya George Dalmida
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  2. Katryna McCoy
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  3. Harold G. Koenig
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Correspondence to Safiya George Dalmida.

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All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the University and University Medical Center Institutional Research Boards.

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Dalmida, S.G., McCoy, K., Koenig, H.G. et al. Examination of the Role of Religious and Psychosocial Factors in HIV Medication Adherence Rates. J Relig Health 56, 2144–2161 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0377-1

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