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Abstract
ASSESMENT OF ART ADVERSE EFFECTS AND POTENTIAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES AMONG PATIENTS TAKING ART IN SHAMBU HOSPITAL/ART CLINIC, HORRO GUDURU WOLLEGA, OROMIA,WESTERN ETHIOPIA
Dinka Dugassa Iticha*
ABSTRACT
Background: The combination of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is the cornerstone of management of patients with HIV-infection. Though ART can reduce viral load to undetectable level, improve the immunity and prolong the life of patients, antiretroviral drugs are associated with many adverse effects that may be severe and affect patient adherence and quality of life where management of these adverse effects is crucial. Objective: To assess antiretroviral associated adverse effects and potential management strategies undertaken among patients taking ART in Shambu Hospital/ART clinic. Methods: A retrospective review of patient record charts (from 2013-2016) was done to assess ART associated adverse effects and potential management strategies undertaken. A sample of 320 patients was selected by random cluster sampling technique. Result: Drug adverse effects were seen in 82 (25.63%) of patients on ART follow-up and the majority of adverse effects reported were dyspepsia 25 (15.06%), lipodystrophy 18 (10.84%), peripheral neuropathy (PN) 17 (10.24%), rash 13 (7.83%), and anemia 12 (7.23%). To manage these adverse effects, switching ART and giving of palliative medicine were undertaken as management strategy in majority of the patients. Conclusion: Common adverse effects encountered were gastrointestinal upsets, lipodystrophy, neurological problems, skin reactions, hematological (anemia) and others like hepatotoxicity, headache, fatigue that were managed by switching drug responsible, giving palliative medicine, cessation of non-ART drugs and dose reduction. Recommendations: Health professionals should work hard to minimize adverse effects of ART drugs and maximizing the success of ART, identify the drugs responsible in occurrence of adverse effects and take measures to improve the quality of the clients life. Also the health professionals who work in ART clinic should write the necessary information on patients card and arrange the cards properly to have reliable information.
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