Adherence to antiretroviral treatment in prisons

Abstract

The effectiveness of antiretroviral drugs is closely linked to the degree of adherence. The prison environment has specific characteristics that may affect adherence in HIV-positive patients, so that it may not be possible to extrapolate factors associated with nonadherence in HIV+ patients outside prison. The objective was to analyze the prevalence of nonadherence to antiretroviral treatment in three Spanish prisons, and to examine the relation between a large group of factors and nonadherence to the medication. A cross-sectional study of all patients receiving antiretroviral treatment was done. Adherence was evaluated using a validated questionnaire (SMAQ). The prevalence of nonadherence was 54.8%, and the factors independently associated with nonadherence were having difficulties in taking the medication, feeling completely or largely unable to follow the medication, classifying the food as "bad", mentioning not having anyone concerned for them outside prison, suffering anxiety or depression in the last week, and having the flexibility of the prison staff opening their cell in the event of them forgetting their medication.