Adherence & Retention
Technical Brief: Adult Adherence to Treatment and Retention in Care
Advances in highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART) have dramatically changed the course of HIV disease, reducing both HIV-related morbidity and mortality. Adherence to treatment (particularly ART) and retention in care are necessary to optimize clinical outcomes in people living with HIV. Most of the studies conducted in resource-limited settings, however, have focused solely on adherence to treatment and have provided limited information on effective and practical approaches to improve both adherence to treatment and retention in care. This brief addresses both aspects of adherence in adult patients and 1) explores barriers associated with poor adherence to ART and retention in care; 2) outlines current methods to measure and monitor adherence; 3) reviews program strategies to retain individuals on effective treatment for life while discussing the applicability of these interventions for integration into ART programs; and 4) provides programmers with guidance on key steps to strengthen efforts to promote adherence to ART and retention in care.
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