Factors Affecting Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among HIV-Positive Pregnant Women in Greece: An Exploratory Study. 2022

Georgia Pontiki, and Antigoni Sarantaki, and Petros Nikolaidis, and Aikaterini Lykeridou
"Elena Venizelou" Hospital, 115 21 Athens, Greece.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a major public health problem globally. Each year, approximately 1.4 million women living with HIV get pregnant. This contemporary descriptive study investigates the degree of compliance of HIV-positive women-patients undergoing antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy. A sample of 200 treated HIV-positive pregnant women (mean age, 32.9 years; Greek nationality, 67.5%; poor educational level, 28.5%) was selected. The data collection occurred in three acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) reference centers in Athens, Greece, from November 2019 to September 2021. Patients’ median knowledge score was 50% (IQR: 38.9−61.1%), and their median attitude score was 4.2 (IQR: 3.6−4.4); 13.0% of participants did comply with ART treatment. Specifically, 7.0% of them failed to take their treatment twice when asked about their activities over the preceding 7 days, and 3.0% skipped it three times. Women of Greek nationality had significantly higher compliance with treatment (p < 0.001). Additionally, a higher compared to lower education level was significantly associated with greater compliance (p = 0.001), while women with a low level of social support had significantly lower compliance. Participants who had complied with ART had significantly higher knowledge and attitude scores (p = 0.027). Patient characteristics determine compliance with ART in HIV-positive pregnant women in Greece, while the availability and quality of health system services may modulate this relationship.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries

Related Publications

Georgia Pontiki, and Antigoni Sarantaki, and Petros Nikolaidis, and Aikaterini Lykeridou
June 2013, International journal of STD & AIDS,
Georgia Pontiki, and Antigoni Sarantaki, and Petros Nikolaidis, and Aikaterini Lykeridou
February 2019, BMC pregnancy and childbirth,
Georgia Pontiki, and Antigoni Sarantaki, and Petros Nikolaidis, and Aikaterini Lykeridou
April 2018, BMC infectious diseases,
Georgia Pontiki, and Antigoni Sarantaki, and Petros Nikolaidis, and Aikaterini Lykeridou
September 2010, African journal of AIDS research : AJAR,
Georgia Pontiki, and Antigoni Sarantaki, and Petros Nikolaidis, and Aikaterini Lykeridou
January 2022, Frontiers in public health,
Georgia Pontiki, and Antigoni Sarantaki, and Petros Nikolaidis, and Aikaterini Lykeridou
December 2018, The International journal on drug policy,
Georgia Pontiki, and Antigoni Sarantaki, and Petros Nikolaidis, and Aikaterini Lykeridou
January 2020, Hippokratia,
Georgia Pontiki, and Antigoni Sarantaki, and Petros Nikolaidis, and Aikaterini Lykeridou
November 2008, AIDS patient care and STDs,
Georgia Pontiki, and Antigoni Sarantaki, and Petros Nikolaidis, and Aikaterini Lykeridou
June 2000, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America,
Georgia Pontiki, and Antigoni Sarantaki, and Petros Nikolaidis, and Aikaterini Lykeridou
September 2008, AIDS care,
Copied contents to your clipboard!