Background and Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the adherence to anti-retroviral prophylaxis after occupational and non-occupational exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in patients consulting the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Center (VCT) of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran during the period 2008 to 2009.

Materials and Methods: In this prospective study, patients were selected, the required information about them was recorded, and adherence to anti-retroviral drugs (including Ziduvudin, Lamivudin and Efavirens) was determined based on self-report by the patients. Eighty-nine exposed patients were followed monthly for 4 months, and in the case of low-adherence (less than 95%) they were asked for the reason(s) for noncompliance.

Results: Of the 89 patients, 55 were men (61.8%) and 34 (38/2%) were women with a mean age of 30.16± 8.39 years; 47 participants (52.8%) were single and 42 (47.1%) married; 27 subjects (30.3%) were physicians, 35 (39.3%) nurses and 27 (30.3%) had occupations outside the healthcare system. From among the 36 subjects (40.5%) who stopped the treatment, 24 (27.0%) stopped it correctly (that is, when the serological test proved to be negative), while 12 (13.4%) did not stop it on a sound basis. Fifty-three subjects (59.6%) completed the prophylaxis. Adherence was found to be significantly associated with age and marital status (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The main reason for stopping the prophylaxis (a negative serological test result of the resource patient) was more pronounced than previous studies, which indicates the higher availability of the resource patient.