RATIONALE FOR CHANGING INITIAL HIGHLY ACTIVE ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (HAART) REGIMEN AMONG HIV/AIDS PATIENTS IN WEST ETHIOPIA

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is not a cure but it dramatically reduces the rate of morbidity and mortality, and it improves quality of life to people living with HIV/AIDS and it also now considered a manageable chronic disease. Objective: The main objective of this study is to determine the reason for treatment and regimen changes, types of regimen changes, and duration of first initiated antiretroviral regimen among patients on ART. Methods and Materials: The study was conducted retrospectively by reviewing the documentary source of patient and by self-administer questionnaire to health care providers. A sample size of 174 patient records was selected by using systematic sampling. Result: Out of 174 patients’ medical records, the majority were females 112(64.4%). The initial ART regimens used were: Stavudine/ Lamivudine/Nevirapine 78 (44.8%) and Stavudine/Lamivudine/Efavirenz 33(19%). Drug toxicity was the first reason for treatment changes 123(70.7%), followed by Tuberculosis 20(11.5%). The most common toxicities observed were Skin Rash 28(16.1%), Peripheral neuropathy 25(14.4%), Fat change 25(14.4%) and Anemia 18(10.3%). Conclusion: ART regimens are effective in decreasing disease progression and AIDS-related death. However, they were associated with a high rate of drug toxicities, and unnecessary switching tends to aggravate the challenges.