Abstract:
The purposes of this predictive correlational research were to study the level of adherence to regimens and to examine the predictability of predicting factors; perceived benefits to treatment, perceived barriers to treatment, self-efficacy, social support, disclosure to diagnosis and stigma of adherence to regimens among adolescents living with HIV/AIDS. The subjects of the study selected by multi-stage random sampling ,were 158 adolescent out-patients with HIV/AIDS visiting HIV clinics in 5 regional hospitals; Lampang Hospital, Sappasitthiprasong Hospital, Choaphraya Yommarat Hospital, Chonburi Hospital, and Maharaj Nakhonsithammarat Hospital. The instruments were demographic data, adherence to regimens, perceived benefits to treatment, perceived barriers to treatment, self-efficacy, social support, disclosure to diagnosis, and stigma questionnaires. All questionnaires were tested for content validities by a panel of five experts. The Cronbachs alpha coefficients of all questionnaires were .81, .75, .90, .87, .94, .63, and .85, respectively. Multiple regression were used in statistical analysis. The major findings were as follows: 1. Mean score of adherence to regimens of adolescents living with HIV/AIDS was at a good level ([Mean] = 3.29, SD = 0.33) 2. Self efficacy, Social support, Disclosure to diagnosis, Perceived benefits to treatment, Stigma, and Perceived barriers to treatment increase the explained variance in adherence. Variables accounted for 42.3 % of total variance in adherence. The equation derived from the standardized score was: 0.361 Z Self-efficacy* + 0.210 Z Social Support* + 0.258 Z Disclosure to diagnosis *+ 0.090 Z Perceived benefits to treatment+ 0.124 Z stigma 0.077 Z Perceived barriers to treatment Adherence to regimens = 0.361 Z[subscript Self-efficacy*]+0.210 Z[Social Support*]+0.258 Z [subscript Disclosure to diagnosis*]+0.090 Z [subscript Perceived benefit to treatment + 0.124 Z[subscript Stigma]-0.077 Z[subscript Perceived barriers to treatment]