Effect of Individualized Assessment on Adherence for Viremic Children Living with HIV in Kiambu County

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to examine the effect of individualized assessment on adherence for viremic children living with HIV in Kiambu County. A descriptive survey research design was used on a target population of all viremic HIV-infected children aged 0-14 in Kiambu County. The study also gathered insights from healthcare professionals working in the HIV/AIDS departments of various hospitals, with a target population of 339 respondents. The research focused specifically on several health facilities, including Ruiru Sub-County Hospital, Igegania Level 4 Hospital, Githunguri Health Center, Langata Health Center, Ngenda Health Center, Juja Farm Health Center, and Makongeni Level 4 Hospital. The stratified sampling approach and the Yamane (1967) formula were used to select 184 respondents. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data from caregivers, while healthcare providers participated in the interview guide. Cronbach's alpha was used to measure reliability. The pretest was conducted on 20 respondents drawn from the Gachororo Health Center in Juja Sub-County. Quantitative data were analyzed using Chi-square, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically. This study found a strong correlation between individualized assessments, particularly medical history reviews, and improved adherence (74.6% adherence among those who agreed with medical history reviews compared to 46.8% among those who disagreed, p=0.0001). The study concluded that individualized assessment emerges as a critical intervention strategy for improving HIV treatment adherence among viremic children, with multifaceted approaches demonstrating statistically significant potential to address complex challenges such as stigma, mental health, and personal treatment needs. The study recommends that the county government, healthcare workers, the Ministry of Health, and other stakeholders should develop a comprehensive, integrated adherence support program that combines technological interventions (such as mobile text message reminders), peer support groups, and tailored healthcare provider counseling.