Prevalence of adverse drug effects of anti-retroviral drugs on HIV-positive patients receiving anti-retroviral treatment in General Hospital Onitsha, Anambra, Nigeria

Background: The wide use and acceptability of antiretroviral treatment has really helped in fighting HIV and keeping infected patients healthy and reducing the risk of further transmission and because of that HIV has become less life threatening. The general objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of adverse drug reactions of antiretroviral drugs on HIV patients receiving care in General Hospital Onitsha. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was adopted to obtain findings on the Prevalence of Adverse Drug Reaction of Antiretroviral Drugs on HIV-positive patient in General Hospital Onitsha. A non-probability convenient sampling technique was used to determine a sample size of 310 respondents for the study and data was collected from all of them with the use of a detailed questionnaire. Data was analyzed using the SPSS version 22 and Microsoft excel. Chi-square was used to test association between variables. Results: From the analysis, it showed that 65.8% of the respondents are female and adults in the age bracket of 29-48 years. 51.9% were married and majority of the respondents (80%) are of the Igbo origin. Also a good number of them (n=200, 64.5%) are using TDF+3TC+DTG. Only 37.1% of the respondents are found to have had an experience of adverse drug reactions in which skin rash, peripheral neuropathy and gastrointestinal problems are prevalent with percentages of 32.2, 23.5 and 22.6 respectively. Conclusion: Adverse drug reactions associated with antiretroviral drugs in General Hospital Onitsha was found not to be prevalent and they occur mostly in people who are in the early years of treatment initiation. This study emphasized the need to monitor at risk and vulnerable patients to know when they have developed an event as a result of treatment. It is highly recommended that intensive and close follow-up of patients, especially for those in their early years of treatment initiation for early detection and quick management of adverse drug reaction.