ABSTRACT:
Objective :To assess the awareness about HIV/AIDS in female HIV positive patients. To assess the adverse effects of antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and its adherence in HIV-infected female patients, in central Chhattisgarh, Bilaspur. Materials and Methods: This was a study carried out at ART centre medical college hospital and Department of pharmacology, Government Medical College Bilaspur after approval from Institutional Human Research Ethics committee and written consent of patients. The study was in 3 steps. First step a set of questions were asked to the all 184 HIV positive female patient about their awareness of AIDS. In second step adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were recorded for 74 female patient on ART. All patients were asked symptoms on monthly basis and were screened clinically and investigated. Lastly to access adherence to treatment a questionnaire in a paper format regarding drug treatment regimen and adverse reactions given to female patient on ART, explained in detail prior to completion. Translation was done when translator and doctor was required. Results: 184 HIV positive female patients were interviewed along with questionnaire. Among them, 69 (37.5%) were illiterate, 61(33%) with primary education, 40 (21%) with sec – education, and 10 were college and above. Out of them 125 patient were unaware of HIV, 39 were aware about it before treatment through radio or television, 21 patient were slightly aware through friends and relatives. Out of 74 patient on ART the most common ADR in our study was anemia in 45 patients (60.81%) due to drug zidovudine, followed by skin rashes in 26 patient (35.14%) due to nevirapine and neuro psychiatric complains in 25 patient (33.78%) due to efavirinz. Lack of adherence to treatment was seen only in 10 patients. Conclusion : In spite of high ADRs, our female patient were adherent to the treatment because ART centre is funded by NACO supplying free medicine, free checkups, lab tests and counseling. Thus, the challenges remains are managing drug toxicites and resistance and increasing the awareness as most of the Indian population is illiterate and poor and lives in rural areas. Thus new strategies for public education on AIDS and its prevention are urgently needed in developing countries. Education has to be considered equally important for girls and boys. Parents have also found ways of taking care of the household chores that girls are usually engaged in, so that they can go to school.