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An academic achievement has once again been attained by a student of the Master’s Program in Tropical Medicine (MKT), Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Sumatera Utara (FK USU). Lidya Oktavia Hutapea successfully published her research in Jurnal Kesehatan, Volume 17, Number 2, 2026, a nationally accredited SINTA 2 journal. The article, entitled “Determinants of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among PLHIV: A Hospital-Based Study in North Sumatera, Indonesia,” was conducted under the supervision of Prof. dr. Tri Widyawati, M.Si., Ph.D., Secretary of the Master’s Program in Clinical Medicine, and Prof. Dr. dr. Rodiah Rahmawaty Lubis, M.Ked(Oph)., Sp.M(K)., Head of the Master’s Program in Clinical Medicine.
The study aimed to identify factors influencing adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in North Sumatra. The study was conducted at Dr. Ferdinand Lumbantobing Regional General Hospital in Sibolga, involving 88 patients receiving ART. A cross-sectional approach and multivariate logistic regression analysis were employed.
The findings showed that 53.4% of respondents had good adherence to ART. Further analysis revealed that knowledge of antiretroviral therapy was the most influential factor associated with patients’ treatment adherence. In addition, family support, healthcare professional support, and access to healthcare facilities were also found to play significant roles in improving treatment adherence. These findings emphasize that successful HIV treatment depends not only on the availability of medication but also on patient education, family involvement, and accessible, high-quality healthcare services.
According to the research team, the findings are expected to serve as a basis for developing strategies to improve HIV treatment adherence in Indonesia, particularly through strengthening patient education programs, improving communication between healthcare professionals and patients, and developing more patient-centered healthcare services.
The successful publication reflects the commitment of the Master’s Program in Tropical Medicine at FK USU to producing graduates capable of conducting high-quality research and making meaningful contributions to addressing public health challenges through evidence-based approaches. Publication in a nationally accredited SINTA 2 journal also represents an important academic achievement for the student in producing a reputable research output.
The research contributes to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) through efforts to improve the quality of healthcare services and the effectiveness of HIV/AIDS treatment. It also contributes to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by strengthening evidence-based health education and SDG 10 (Reduced Inequalities) by promoting more equitable access to healthcare services for people living with HIV.
The full article is available at: