Negi Bharat Singh
Kobe University, Japan
Title: Earthquake impact on adherence to antiretroviral therapy, mental health and the risk of ART drug resistance among people living with HIV in Nepal
Biography
Biography: Negi Bharat Singh
Abstract
A 7.8 magnitude earthquake April 2015 in Nepal claimed >8600 lives, 21900 were injured and 88000 people were displaced. >1000 of health facilities got damaged; 402 were completely destroyed. In such situation, HIV/AIDS can invite risk of public health threat as >95% medical adherence is required to prevent drug resistance and to control HIV complications. Our study aimed to assess the impact of earthquake on people living with HIV (PLHIV) especially adherence to antiretroviral therapy, risk of drug resistance or treatment failure and to assess post-traumatic stress disorder, HIV stigma and risky sexual behavior among PLHIVs. 305 PLHIVs were interviewed to find the information regarding ART drug adherence (last 4-day pill count), post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), earthquake damage and loss, access to medical services, social support, discrimination and stigma and risky sexual behavior. Finding revealed that around 13% of the PLHIV reported treatment failure while only 8% of participants were not >95%-adherent to ART. Around 44% of the participant had PTSD symptoms, 49.8% reported being stigmatized and 45% did not use condom during last 3 months. 5% of participants lost their family member during the earthquake. Interestingly, ART adherence is not found statistically associated with PTSD, stigma and social support; however it is associated with disclosure sero-positive status. In resource-limit countries improving access to ART drugs and eliminating social stigma can prevent ART drug resistance during natural crisis.