Level of adherence and predictors of adherence to the Option B+ PMTCT programme in Tigray, northern Ethiopia

• We included 277 HIV-positive women under Option B+ prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) care and support.
• We assessed the level of adherence and its predictors.
• The overall level of adherence to Option B+ PMTCT drugs was 87.0%.
• Counselling on PMTCT drugs and HIV status disclosure were predictors of adherence.

SummaryObjectiveThe aim of this study was to determine the level of adherence to Option B+ PMTCT drugs and factors associated with adherence among HIV-positive pregnant women in public hospitals of Tigray, northern Ethiopia.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 277 HIV-positive pregnant women in 2014. A two-stage cluster sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Individual consent was obtained from each participant. Multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate the net effect sizes of factors associated with adherence to Option B+ PMTCT drugs.ResultsThe level of adherence of respondents to Option B+ PMTCT drugs was 87.1% (95% confidence interval (CI) 82.6–90.7%). Controlling for the effect of other factors, the odds of adhering to Option B+ PMTCT were 4.7 times higher among women who received counselling on medication as compared to those who did not (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 4.7, 95% CI 1.98–11.35). Similarly, disclosing HIV status was positively associated with good adherence (aOR 4.2, 95% CI 1.07–16.33).ConclusionsThe adherence level was found to be reasonably good. Counselling on medication and HIV status disclosure were positive predictors of adherence to Option B+ PMTCT drugs.