Barriers to adherence to antiretroviral treatment in a regional hospital in Vredenburg, Western Cape, South Africa
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Date
2016
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
AOSIS
Abstract
BACKGROUND: South Africa currently runs the largest public antiretroviral treatment (ART)
programme in the world, with over 80% of people living with HIV and/or AIDS on ART.
However, in order to appreciate the benefits of using ART, patients are subject to
uncompromising and long-term commitments of taking at least 95% of their treatment as
prescribed. Evidence shows that this level of adherence is seldom achieved because of a
multilevel and sometimes interwoven myriad of factors.
Objective: We described the challenges faced by patients on ART in Vredenburg with regard
to ART adherence.
METHODS: A descriptive qualitative research design was used. Eighteen non-adhering patients
on ART in the Vredenburg regional hospital were purposefully selected. Using a semistructured
interview guide, we conducted in-depth interviews with the study participants in
their mother tongue (Afrikaans). The interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and
translated into English. The data were analysed manually using the thematic content analysis
method.
RESULTS: Stigma, disclosure, unemployment, lack of transport, insufficient feeding, disability
grants and alternative forms of therapy were identified as major barriers to adherence, whereas
inadequate follow-ups and lack of patient confidentiality came under major criticisms from
the patients.
CONCLUSION: Interventions to address poverty, stigma, discrimination and disclosure should be
integrated with group-based ART adherence models in Vredenburg while further quantitative
investigations should be carried out to quantify the extent to which these factors impede
adherence in the community.
Description
Keywords
South Africa, public antiretroviral treatment (ART), Level of adherence, Vredenburg, Western Cape
Citation
Azia, I.N. et al. (2016). Barriers to adherence to antiretroviral treatment in a regional hospital in Vredenburg, Western Cape, South Africa. South African Journal of HIV Medicine, 17(1): a476.