Background: The dawn of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has profoundly transformed Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection from a fatal illness to a more manageable disease, thereby improving the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Nevertheless, inadequate knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of persons living with the disease often make it difficult to attain good adherence levels necessary to achieve maximum viral suppression.

Objectives: To assess the effectiveness of health education in improving the adherence of PLWHA to their treatment and care.

Methods: A randomised-controlled trial was employed in which HIV/AIDS patients were randomly allocated into the intervention and control groups in the Limbe Regional Hospital from June to September 2014. Participants in both groups were assessed for KAP and adherence to ART and those in the intervention group were educated and counselled based on the knowledge gaps identified. Follow-up health education of patients was done for three months and both groups reevaluated for KAP and adherence. Data were analysed on STATA version 10.1 software.

Results: A total of 150 HIV/AIDS patients took part in the study of which 116 (76.0%) were females [55 (73.33%) in the intervention and 59 (78.67%) in the control group]. After health education, post KAP responses in the intervention showed a significant improvement in mean knowledge score from 3.39±1.10 at baseline to 4.61±0.54, (p