@article{fdi:010046010,
  title = {{F}inancial barriers to {HIV} treatment in {Y}aounde, {C}ameroon : first results of a national cross-sectional survey},
  author = {{B}oyer, {S}. and {M}arcellin, {F}. and {O}ngolo-{Z}ogo, {P}. and {A}bega, {S}. {C}. and {N}antchouang, {R}. and {S}pire, {B}. and {M}oatti, {J}ean-{P}aul},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{O}bjective {T}o assess the extent to which user fees for antiretroviral therapy ({ART}) represent a financial barrier to access to {ART} among {HIV}-positive patients in {Y}aounde, {C}ameroon. {M}ethods {S}ociodemographic, economic and clinical data were collected from a random sample of 707 {HIV}-positive patients followed up in six public hospitals of the capital city ({Y}aounde) and its surroundings through face-to-face interviews carried out by trained interviewers independently from medical staff and medical questionnaires filled out by prescribing physicians. {L}ogistic regression models were used to identify factors associated with self-reported financial difficulties in purchasing {ART} during the previous 3 months. {F}indings {O}f the 532 patients treated with {ART} at the time of the survey, 20% reported financial difficulty in purchasing their antiretroviral drugs during the previous 3 months. {A}fter adjustment for socioeconomic and clinical factors, reports of financial difficulties were significantly associated with lower adherence to {ART} (odds ratio, {OR}: 0.24; 95% confidence interval, {CI}: 0.15-0.40; {P} < 0.0001) and with lower {CD}4+ lymphocyte ({CD}4) counts after 6 months of treatment ({OR}: 2.14; 95% {CI}: 1.15-3.96 for {CD}4 counts < 200 cells/mu l; {P}= 0.04). {C}onclusion {R}emoving a financial barrier to treatment with {ART} by eliminating user fees at the point of care delivery, as recommended by {WHO}, could lead to increased adherence to {ART} and to improved clinical results. {N}ew health financing mechanisms based on the public resources of national governments and international donors are needed to attain universal access to drugs and treatment for {HIV} infection.},
  keywords = {},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{B}ulletin of the {W}orld {H}ealth {O}rganization},
  volume = {87},
  numero = {4},
  pages = {279--287},
  ISSN = {0042-9686},
  year = {2009},
  DOI = {10.2471/blt.07.049643},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010046010},
}