Survival of Patients Using Antiretroviral Therapy by Pass Stigma, South Ethiopia

Human Immunodeficiency Virus| Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV|AIDS) has become the common deadly chronic disease. Provision of antiretroviral drugs is believed in reducing the effect of stigma and social discrimination. Previous studies verified the association between accesses of ART on stigma reduction. In this study, the urban data results confirmed with the previous study results. However, the rural data do not reflect the access of ART reduces the stigma of patients on ART. Most of patients in rural hospitals give up continuing on ART due to stigmatization. As a result the survival probabilities of rural patients on ART in Gidole (rural hospital) become 0.0997 in 104th survival month from 0.9956 in 17th survival month. For the same survival months, the survival probabilities of patients on ART in Arba Minch (urban hospital) become 0.5924 from 0.9936. To improve the survival probability of patient, we should improve CD4 count. It is the main determinant factor in patient survival modeling.