Factors Determining Non-Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy amongst People Living with HIV in Cameroon: An Integrative Literature Review

Abstract

Background: HIV remains a public health problem in Cameroon with an estimated prevalence of 3.0%. Non-adherence to anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is a known cause of sustained high viral loads. Despite an increase in access to ART in Cameroon over the last decade, the proportion of persons living with HIV (PLWHIV) who do not adhere to ART has been worrisome with a reported prevalence of 34.9%. Several studies have been done by Cameroonian authors to elucidate factors associated with ART non-adherence. In this integrative review of the literature, using the Health Belief Model as framework, I attempt to summarize factors associated with ART non-adherence in Cameroon, verifying gaps and suggesting further research opportunities. Methods: On June 15, 2022, I searched the following keywords: “Non-adherence”, “Interruption”, “ART”, “HIV treatment”, “Antiretroviral therapy”, and “Cameroon”, using “And” and “Or” as Boolean operators on Google Scholar, PubMed, and ScienceDirect. Included in this review were peer-reviewed primary research articles published from 2012 to 2022 conducted among Cameroonian adults. Results: Twelve articles were found relevant to this study. A content analysis revealed that quantitative designs were mostly used (83.3%) and most studies were done in the Center region of Cameroon. Transportation cost, stigma, and side effects of ART were the most common factors associated with non-adherence to ART. Conclusion: Factors associated with ART non-adherence in Cameroon are similar across different studies with high transportation cost for patient being the most outstanding determinant. More qualitative studies out of the Center region need to be done.