How to investigate Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment ... - INRUD

How to Investigate Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment in Health Facilities: Adherence Indicators
The Facility Interview Form
Facility Level Indicators
Several indicators gather data about the infrastructure at each health facility. These include
the presence or absence of a private space for counselling and a laboratory for CD4 or viral
load testing. In addition, since consistent availability of medicines is a key determinant of
adherence, several indicators measure the current and recent availability of ARVs and other
key medicines to treat or prevent HIV-associated illnesses. The way to do this is to interview
the facility manager and pharmacist, visit the pharmacy, and look at the attendance register, if
available, and fill in the facility data collection form
Preparing for the Facility Interview
Before carrying out the interview, it is necessary to compile three lists of medicines and
doses, each with up to 10 medicines and formulations—
• Key ARV medicine for adults with dose and formulation
• Key ARV medicine for children with dose and formulation
• Key non-ARV medicines that should be present in every facility
For the ARV medicines, decisions have to be made on which medicines should be present in
all clinics. Therefore, first-line treatments should be included. Second-line medicines should
only be included if all facilities are expected to stock them. The paediatric list should only be
filled in if the clinic treats children with ARVs.
Sample lists are included here in tables 10–12. They should be adapted to local conditions.
Table 10. Sample List of Needed Adult ARVs
Adults ARV First-Line Drug
1 Lamivudine 150 mg tab 3TC
2 Stavudine 40 mg D4T
3 Stavudine 30 mg D4T
4 Nevirapine 200 mg NVP
5 Efavirenz 200 mg EFV
6 Efavirenz 600 mg EFV
Abbreviation
7 ZDV+3TC 450 mg ZDV, 3TC
8
9
10
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