Table 1.
Demographic and treatment characteristics of PLHIV who had been taking ART at least 6 months by the time of the study (N=683)
| Number from study sites | n (%) |
|---|---|
| Korle Bu Teaching Hospital | 408 (59.8) |
| Koforidua Regional Hospital | 138 (20.2) |
| St Dominic's Hospital | 104 (15.2) |
| Odorna Clinic | 33 (4.8) |
| Age, years | |
| Mean (SD) | 41.4 (9.2) |
| Range | 18 – 72 |
| Women, n (%) | 464 (67.9) |
| Educational status, n (%) | |
| Nil | 119 (17.4) |
| Primary | 118 (17.3) |
| Junior secondary/middle school | 285 (41.7) |
| Senior secondary/high school | 116 (17.0) |
| Tertiary | 38 (5.6) |
| Other | 7 (1.0) |
| Religion, n (%) | |
| Christian | 612 (89.6) |
| Moslem | 60 (8.8) |
| Other | 11 (1.4) |
| Point of HIV diagnosis/ source referral to ART clinic, n (%) | |
| Medical diagnostic testing | 290 (42.5) |
| Pediatric diagnostic testing | 14 (2.0) |
| Surgical diagnostic testing | 8 (1.2) |
| TB clinic diagnostic testing | 24 (3.5) |
| PMTCT / ANC | 21 (3.1) |
| VCT | 60 (8.8) |
| Partner HIV positive | 48 (7.0) |
| Referral from other health Institutions | 206 (30.2) |
| Others | 12 (1.6) |
| Initial ART regimen, n (%) | |
| Zidovudine + Lamivudine + Nevirapine | 244 (35.7) |
| Zidovudine + Lamivudine + Efavirenz | 230 (33.7) |
| Stavudine + Lamivudine + Nevirapine | 103 (15.1) |
| Stavudine + Lamivudine + Efavirenz | 78 (11.4) |
| Other combinations | 28 (4.1) |
| Duration on ART, n (%) | |
| 6 – 12 months | 198 (28.0) |
| 13 – 24 months | 218 (32.0) |
| 25 – 36 months | 145 (21.2) |
| ≥37 months | 122 (18) |
| Means of paying ART services, n (%) | |
| Patient out of pocket | 456 (66.8) |
| Family | 87 (12.7) |
| Spouse | 46 (6.7) |
| Employee sponsored | 7 (1.0) |
| Medical insurance | 4 (0.6) |
| Other | 83 (12.2) |
| Times drug collected without making payment, n (%) | |
| Never | 179 (26.6) |
| 1-4 times | 293 (43.5) |
| 5-9 times | 136 (20) |
| >10 times | 64 (9.5) |
| No response | 11(1.6) |