A RESEARCH THESIS TO BE SUBMITTED TO WOLLEGA UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE OF HEALTH SCIENCES, SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH, AS PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR A MASTER'S DEGREE IN GENERAL PUBLIC HEALTH

ADVISORS: MESERET BELETE (MPH,PHD) MARKOS DESAELEGN (MPH,ASSISTANT PROFESSOR) Background: Non-adherence to antiretroviral treatment among adolescent is a major public health issue, as it is connected to poor clinical, virological, immunological responses, treatment failures, higher rates of morbidity and mortality and decreased productivity. Despite there is a prevalent studies on antiretroviral treatment adherence in adults, there are few studies that concentrate on adolescents in the study area.This study aimed to identify factors affecting adherence to antiretroviral therapy among adolescents living with HIV. Objective: This study aimed to assess the magnitude of adherence to antiretroviral treatment and associated factors among adolescents attending antiretroviral therapy clinic at public health facilities of Jimma Zone, South-West Ethiopia, 2025. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study determined adherence to antiretroviral treatment among 525 adolescents at public health facilities of Jimma zone from January 1-February 1, 2025. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire by using multistage random sampling. The raw data entered in to Epi-data version 3.1 and analysed by SPSS version 27. Bivariable analysis was used with a p-value of