Impact of a Factorial Health Education Intervention on Treatment Behaviour and Viral Suppression among People Living with HIV in Taraba State, Nigeria.

Abstract:

HIV remains a major public health challenge, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where optimal antiretroviral therapy adherence is critical for viral suppression, prevention of drug resistance, and improved health outcomes. A quasi-experimental pretest–posttest study involving 60 ART recipients employed validated questionnaires, descriptive statistics, and ANOVA (p<0.05). At baseline, treatment behaviour scores comparable results across groups, with Intervention1 recording a mean score of (7.67±4.41), control (2.56±0.31), Intervention2 (2.92±0.80), and Intervention3 (2.85±0.30), with viral load mean= 31.40±17.16 (control) to 46.87±10.54 (Intervention1) (p=0.011). By week 13, Intervention1 improved in treatment behaviour (16.27±1.20) versus control (3.00±0.41), Intervention2 (3.70±1.47), and Intervention3 (4.83±2.60), with significant increase in Viral load (p=0.005). Pill count 62.13% (control) to 98.98% (Intervention1), and appointment-keeping from 0.08±0.93 to 7.93±1.53. Effect size analyses indicated greater viral load reductions in intervention groups (ES=-1.13 to -2.16) than control (ES=0.00). Factorial, theory-based interventions significantly enhance ART adherence and viral suppression, warranting integration into routine HIV care.