Many women with HIV aren’t sticking to drug treatment programs, BC study finds

A population-based study of BC residents living with HIV finds that more woman than men aren’t successfully adhering to their drug therapy programs.

The study followed over 4,500 people infected with HIV over a 14 year period and found that while 77 per cent of HIV-infected men were successfully keeping to their treatment regimens, only 57 per cent of HIV-infected women were doing so successfully, a result which researchers see as evidence that more support structures are needed for women within the HIV/AIDS community.

HIV treatment has come a long way over the past 30 years, to the point now where today’s antiretroviral drugs can give a person with HIV a strong chance of never developing full-blown AIDS. But while antiretroviral therapy has been proven to reduce the risk of life-threatening HIV-related infections, it’s also known that strict adherence to the therapy is required for the benefits to manifest, meaning that a stoppage in medication can cause treatment failure – hence the importance of sticking to treatment plans and taking medications daily.

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Canada Post has provided notification of restarting their operations on December 17, 2024. As Canada Post ramps up and stabilizes their services, the BC-CfE will continue the following measures on an interim basis to minimize service disruption to BC-CfE clients and providers.

  • The BC-CfE Laboratory will utilize private courier for delivery of outgoing reports and documents. (Lab Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8775; FAX 604-806-9463)
  • The BC-CfE Drug Treatment Program (DTP) will fax outgoing forms and documents to the provider’s office. (DTP Contact Information: Phone 604-806-8515; FAX 604-806-9044)
  • St. Paul’s Hospital Ambulatory Pharmacy will utilize private courier for delivery of medications. (Contact Information: Phone 1-800-547-3622; FAX 604-806-8675)

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