Hilda Tumwesigye, Mark Arunda, Kiryowa Michael
Department of Biological Sciences, IBIN Biosciences
Date: 2026
Summary
The study looked at why some people living with HIV do not take their medicines as recommended. It was carried out at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital in Bushenyi District, Uganda, among 255 patients receiving HIV-related care (Buyu et al., 2016). The researchers wanted to understand the common reasons that make people miss their medicines and identify the groups of patients who may need additional support.
The study found that most of the patients were taking their medicines well. About 59% of the patients had a good record of taking their medicines, while about 24% had a fair record. However, about 18% had the lowest level of taking their medicines as recommended. This shows that although most patients were managing their treatment well, a considerable number were still experiencing difficulties.
The most common reason patients gave for missing their medicines was simply forgetting to take them. Some patients also stopped or missed their medicines because they started feeling better and believed they no longer needed to take them regularly. Others were sometimes too sick to take their medicines. Fear of being identified as someone living with HIV was another important problem, as some patients did not want other people to see them taking their medicines. Alcohol use and occasions when the medicines were not available at the health facility were also mentioned as reasons for missing treatment.
The study also found differences among different groups of patients. Women in the study were more likely to miss their medicines than men. Patients aged 30–39 and 40–49 years were more likely to have difficulties taking their medicines regularly than some of the other age groups. Patients who were separated from their partners were also more likely to miss their medicines. Differences were also seen according to education level.
The findings suggest that missing HIV medicines is not caused by one problem alone. Everyday forgetfulness, feeling better, illness, fear of other people’s reactions, alcohol use, difficulties obtaining medicines, and personal circumstances can all make it harder for someone to follow their treatment properly. The researchers therefore recommend that health workers pay special attention to patients who are more likely to struggle with taking their medicines and provide support that addresses their particular needs.
The study also points to practical ways of helping patients. These include providing better support at HIV clinics, reducing difficulties associated with collecting medicines, strengthening social support, and using reminders such as mobile phone messages. The main message is that while many patients are successfully taking their medicines, those who struggle should not simply be blamed. Instead, the reasons behind missed medicines should be understood and appropriate support should be provided to help them remain on treatment.
References
Buyu, D. W., Miruka, C. O., Maniga, J. N., & Onchweri, A. N. (2016). Factors affecting adherence to anti-retroviral therapy at Kampala International University Teaching Hospital, Bushenyi District, Uganda. American Journal of Medical Sciences and Medicine, 4(1), 17–22. https://doi.org/10.12691/ajmsm-4-1-4
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