A cross sectional study on the factors associated with HIV ART adherence among adolescents living with HIV who are in peer support programme in the rural areas of Chirumhanzu District, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Background: Adherence to treatment is important for ensuring positive health effects for people living with HIV. This is even more so important for adolescents and young people who are in their formative years and should be in optimum health condition to get the best quality of life. However, HIV ART adherence for young people is generally lower than for other populations groups in Sub- Saharan Africa. If the young people are based in a rural area, the dynamics become harder for HIV adherence to treatment due to challenges of infrastructure, distance and living conditions. An understanding of the facilitators and barriers to treatment for young people who have been exposed to a peer support programme could help in ensuring that the young people adhere to treatment. The aim of the study was to determine factors associated with HIV ART among adolescents living with HIV who are in a peer support programme in the rural areas of Chirumhanzu District, in Zimbabwe. Methodology: The study utilised a quantitative approach in particular the cross-sectional survey design to determine factors associated with HIV ART adherence among adolescents who are in peer support programme in Chirumhanzu District. Participants were young people living with HIV, between 18 and 25 years old and in the St Theresa Hospital ART register. A purposive sampling technique was utilised to select 172 respondents who have been exposed to the HIV ART peer support programme. Data on socio-demographic variables, sexual and substance behaviours and HIV ART adherence was collected using a structured questionnaire administered by the researcher.