Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among Hiv-Infected Children Attending Hiwot Fana and Dil-Chora Art Clinic at Referral Hospitals in Eastern Ethiopia

Background: The success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) depends on a high level of adherence to a life-long regimen of antiretroviral drugs (ARVs). Adherence is a concern in children because of factors relating to children such as age, disclosure status of HIV sero- status, and understanding of the medication. Few studies have determined the level of adherence of ART among children since the scale-up of access to ARVs in the study areas. This study was thus undertaken to determine the level of ART adherence among pediatric patients at an ART clinic, the reasons for non-adherence, and the factors associated with adherence, according to mothers/caregivers' reports.