Food insecurity and adherence to antiretroviral therapy

What is it about?

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is recognized as the most consistent factor for HIV treatment success. This study aimed at identifying factors that influence patient adherence to HIV treatment in the Democratic Republic of Congo, a country where such information was still lacking. Among many other factors, food insecurity or simply the lack of food, emerged as the most important factor that impeded patients to take their medication as prescribed.

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Why is it important?

This study is unique in that its included three groups of participants with different experience with HIV treatment. This included patients who never interrupted their treatment since they were initiated on treatment, patients who experienced at least one treatment interruption and then restarted therapy, and those who permanently discontinued their medication (loss to follow up).