Project Focus
Adherence

Project Location
Hillbrow, Johannesburg

Duration of Project
3 months, 2003

Project Partners
n/a

Project Donors
DfiD Knowledge Programme, DfiD National Sexual & Reproductive Health Programme

Contact
Dr Jocelyn Moyes

Project Aims /Objectives
To determine hypothetical as well as actual factors which might influence treatment adherence in a population in inner city Johannesburg

Project Activities
The concern when planning an intervention trial is the expected level of adherence to study treatment in the study population. A number of trials of twice daily suppressive therapy for HSV-2 to determine the impact on HIV acquisition/transmission are being conducted by RHRU, this study determined hypothetical as well as actual factors influencing treatment adherence in a population in inner city Johannesburg, the target population of these trials.

Anticipated/Actual Results
36 participants returned their treatment diaries at one month. Ninety three percent of treatment doses were taken. Factors associated with increased adherence to treatment included using an alarm clock as a reminder, identifying a support person to remind the participant about treatment, taking treatment during other routine activities such as brushing their teeth, and using support groups. Barriers to treatment adherence included a change in routine, traveling away from home and myths regarding the effects of treatment. Detailed results of the study are being prepared for publication

Additional Outputs
tba

Future Plans
TBA

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