ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SMOKING, CRACK COCAINE ABUSE AND THE DISCONTINUATION OF COMBINATION ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY IN RECIFE, PERNAMBUCO, BRAZIL

Authors

  • Joanna d'Arc Lyra Batista Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
  • Maria de Fatima Pessoa Militao de Albuquerque Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhaes/FIOCRUZ
  • Marcela Lopes Santos Centro de Pesquisas Aggeu Magalhaes/FIOCRUZ
  • Democrito de Barros Miranda-Filho Universidade de Pernambuco
  • Heloisa Ramos Lacerda Universidade de Pernambuco
  • Magda Maruza Secretaria de Saude; Hospital Correia Picanco
  • Libia Vilela Moura Universidade Federal de Pernambuco
  • Isabella Coimbra Universidade de Pernambuco
  • Ricardo Arraes de Alencar Ximenes Universidade de Pernambuco

Abstract

Despite the effectiveness of combination antiretroviral therapy in the treatment of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), nonadherence to medication has become a major threat to its effectiveness. This study aimed to estimate the prevalence of self-reported irregular use of antiretroviral therapy and the factors associated with such an irregularity in PLWHA. A cross-sectional study of PLWHA who attended two referral centers in the city of Recife, in Northeastern Brazil, between June 2007 and October 2009 was carried out. The study analyzed socioeconomic factors, social service support and personal habits associated with nonadherence to antiretroviral therapy, adjusted by multivariable logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of PLWHA who reported irregular use of combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) was 25.7%. In the final multivariate model, the irregular use of cART was associated with the following variables: being aged less than 40 years (OR = 1.66, 95%-CI: 1.29-2.13), current smokers (OR = 1.76, 95%-CI: 1.31-2.37) or former smokers (OR = 1.43, 95%-CI: 1.05-1.95), and crack cocaine users (OR = 2.79, 95%-CI: 1.24-6.32). Special measures should be directed towards each of the following groups: individuals aged less than 40 years, smokers, former smokers and crack cocaine users. Measures for giving up smoking and crack cocaine should be incorporated into HIV-control programs in order to promote greater adherence to antiretroviral drugs and thus improve the quality of life and prolong life expectancy.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2014-04-01

Issue

Section

HIV/AIDS

How to Cite

ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SMOKING, CRACK COCAINE ABUSE AND THE DISCONTINUATION OF COMBINATION ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY IN RECIFE, PERNAMBUCO, BRAZIL . (2014). Revista Do Instituto De Medicina Tropical De São Paulo, 56(2), 127-132. https://www.revistas.usp.br/rimtsp/article/view/78712