Compliance to Antiretroviral Therapy: Barriers During Pregnancy

Introduction: Thirty years after the HIV pandemic worldwide, the use of antiretroviral therapy during and after pregnancy is considered crucial not only to maintain maternal health but also to prevent mother-child transmission of HIV. Adherence to the treatment plan has been recognized as a key component of treatment success. Aim: The present review aims to analyze the concept of compliance and investigate the barriers and factors related to HIV-positive women’s compliance with antiretroviral therapy during pregnancy. Material and Method: We searched through Greek and international databases as Pubmed, Scopus and Iatrotek, for research articles published mainly during the last decade, using the following keywords "adherence ", "barriers", "compliance", "antiretroviral therapy", "pregnancy". Results: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is considered to be the second more important prognostic factor of the disease outcome, after the number of CD4 lymphocytes. A literature review has shown that adherence to antiretroviral therapy remains low, although it has been documented that successfully improves the pregnant and postpartum women’s health outcomes. Adherence to long-term treatments is a complex phenomenon which according to a multidimensional compliance model of the WHO is shaped by individual and social factors, factors that are related to medical facilities and health professionals’ attitudes, medication and its side effects and social support as well. Conclusion: Adherence to lifelong antiretroviral therapy is an important requirement for optimizing the benefits of systematic treatment.