Igumbor, EhimarioKasvosve, IshmaelGorova, Vivianne InganaiSchool of Public HealthFaculty of Community and Health Sciences2013-10-282026-06-102011/03/032011/03/032013-10-282026-06-102010https://hdl.handle.net/10566/23467Magister Public Health - MPHAntiretroviral regimens have side effects that can threaten adherence by patients resulting in evolution of viral resistance due to suboptimal drug levels. Studies have shown that drug adherence of at least 80% can result in viral load suppression. There is no literature on the association between the level of adherence to antiretroviral therapy and the degree of virological suppression in Namibia. The aim of the present study was to determine the therapeutic and virological outcomes in HIV/AIDS patients at 6 and 12 months after initiation of highly-active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in an urban population in Namibia. The distribution of viral load results showed a low uptake (35%) of virological monitoring at 6 month time point and even lower (12%) at 12 months. A conservative viral load threshold for virological response is required in the Namibian setting. The current adherence level of >80% encourage increased ARV therapy rollout. Poor virological outcome was associated with self-reported adherence.enHuman Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)Viral loadSelf- reported AdherenceInitiation of therapyFirst-line therapyAntiretroviral (ARV) therapyPatientsHighly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)AdultNamibiaThesisUniversity of the Western Cape