Objectives:
To identify the socio-demographic and clinical aspects, as well as classify the adherence of men living with HIV/AIDS to antiretroviral therapy (ARVT).
Methods:
Observational, quantitative, and cross-sectional study conducted with 136 adult men living with HIV/AIDS undergoing ART, between May and August 2013. At two referral centers for HIV/AIDS in the Agreste region of the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. We used a validated questionnaire to classify the levels of adherence to ART.
Results:
63.3% of participants had an "insufficient/average" giving an insufficient adherence to the success with the treatment by not maintaining the viral load at an undetectable level.
Conclusion:
It was observed that most men do not satisfactorily adhere to ART, demonstrating that adherence involves a laborious and multifactorial care; health professionals must adopt a different posture regarding men's care, considering all aspects and feelings of masculinity that can interfere with treatment.
HIV; Medication adherence; Men's health