Religion and adherence to antiretroviral medication: is there a link?

ABSTRACT: Background: Data from various studies on religion and health show the usefulness of religiousvariables on various health outcomes.Previous studies on the relationship between religion and antiretroviralmedication adherence in Africa have been inconsistent.Objectives:Study aimed to determine the relationship between religiosity, religious coping and medicationadherence among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 140 HIV clinic attendees of a Nigerian tertiary hospital.Religiosity, religious coping and adherence were assessed with religious orientation scale-revised (ROS-R),Brief RCOPE and Morisky medication adherence scale (MMAS), respectively. Independent t-test was used totest the relationship between religious orientation, religious coping and medication adherence (dichotomized asoptimal/sub-optimal). The socio-demographic, clinical and religious predictors of medication adherence wereexplored using the stepwise multiple regression analysis.Results: Optimal medication adherence scores were significantly associated with increased extrinsic religiositypersonal (ERP) orientation (t = -2.1, df =138, p = 0.04; effect size 0.4, 95% CI, 0.3-0.6). Sub-optimalmedication adherence scores were significantly associated with increased extrinsic religiosity social (ERS)orientation (t = 3.10, df = 138, p = 0.002; effect size = -0.6, 95% CI, -0.9 to -0.3). Level of education(standardized coefficient = -1.16, p = 0.05, R2 = 0.024) and ERP (standardized coefficient = -1.16, p = 0.05, R2=0.050) were the identified predictors of adherence.Conclusion: ERP orientationemerged a probable predictor of optimum antiretroviral medication adherence.Educational support programmes and counselling sessionsshouldencourage personal religious commitmentamong PLWHA to improve antiretroviral medication adherence.

Key words: Religion; Antiretroviral treatment; Medication adherence; Link