Better adherence to AIDS drugs than US

Evidence has emerged that HIV-positive people in Africa follow their antiretroviral drug regimens more closely than their American counterparts. Contrary to sceptical views that HIV/AIDS treatment in Africa was not feasible, research shows that HIV-positive people in Botswana, Uganda, Senegal and South Africa take 90 percent of their drug regimens, compared to America's 70 percent. Dr David Bangsberg, a professor of medicine at the University of California San Francisco, said on average, US patients told their doctors they were 20 percent better in adhering to their regimens than they actually were. However, a study of 29 people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda found that while the respondents estimated taking 93 percent of their pills, in reality it was 91 percent. The New York Times quoted Bangsberg as saying: "Most Africans are zealous about adhering to their drug regimens and are more truthful than their US counterparts when estimating their adherence to a drug regimen."