Citation
Cordoba, Evette; Parcesepe, Angela M.; Gallis, John A.; Headley, Jennifer; Soffo, Claudian; Tchatchou, Berenger; Hembling, John; & Baumgartner, Joy Noel (2021). The Syndemic Effects of Mental Ill Health, Household Hunger, and Intimate Partner Violence on Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among Pregnant Women Living with HIV in Yaoundé, Cameroon. PLOS ONE, 16(2), e0246467. PMCID: PMC7894814Abstract
BACKGROUND: This research advances understanding of interrelationships among three barriers to adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among pregnant women living with HIV (WLWH) in Cameroon: probable common mental disorders (CMD), intimate partner violence (IPV), and hunger.METHODS: The sample included 220 pregnant WLWH in Cameroon. Multivariable modified Poisson regression was conducted to assess the relationship between IPV, hunger, and CMD on ART adherence.
RESULTS: Almost half (44%) of participants recently missed/mistimed an ART dose. Probable CMD was associated with greater risk of missed/mistimed ART dose (aRR 1.5 [95% CI 1.1, 1.9]). Hunger was associated with greater risk of missed/mistimed ART dose among those who reported IPV (aRR 1.9 [95% CI 1.2, 2.8]), but not among those who did not (aRR 0.8 [95% CI 0.2, 2.3]).
CONCLUSION: Suboptimal ART adherence, CMD, and IPV were common among pregnant WLWH in Cameroon. Pregnant WLWH experiencing IPV and hunger may be especially vulnerable to suboptimal ART adherence.
URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0246467Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2021Journal Title
PLOS ONEAuthor(s)
Cordoba, EvetteParcesepe, Angela M.
Gallis, John A.
Headley, Jennifer
Soffo, Claudian
Tchatchou, Berenger
Hembling, John
Baumgartner, Joy Noel