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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
Barriers to acceptance and adherence of antiretroviral therapy in urban Zambian women: A qualitative study
AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV, Volume 21, No. 1, Year 2009
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Description
Sub-Saharan Africa contains over 60% of the world's HIV infections and Zambia is among the most severely affected countries in the region. As antiretroviral programs have been rapidly expanding, the long-term success of these programs depends on a good understanding of the behavioral determinants of acceptance and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART). The study used qualitative methods to gain local insight into potentially important factors affecting HIV-infected women's decision to accept or continue with ART. Some of the barriers identified by this study are consistent with factors cited in the existing adherence literature from both developed and developing nations such as side effects, hunger and stigma; other factors have not been previously reported. One major theme was unfamiliarity with the implications of having a chronic, potentially deadly disease. Other emerging themes from this study include the complicated effect of ART on interpersonal relationship, particularly between husbands and wives, the presence of depression and hopelessness, and lack of accurate information. The results suggest that the reasons for non-uptake of treatment include issues related to local cultural frameworks (e.g., illness ideology), mental and behavioral health (e.g., depression and/or interpersonal challenges), stigma, and motivating factors (e.g., values of church or marriage) of different cultures that affect the ability and willingness to take life-saving medicine for a long period of time. Qualitative studies are critical to better understand why ART eligible individuals are choosing not to initiate or continue treatment to achieve needed adherence levels. © 2009 Taylor & Francis.
Authors & Co-Authors
Murray, Laura K.
United States, Boston
School of Public Health
Semrau, Katherine E.A.
United States, Boston
School of Public Health
McCurley, Ellen
United States, Boston
School of Public Health
Unknown
Pendulam Project
Thea, Donald M.
United States, Boston
School of Public Health
Scott, Nancy A.
United States, Boston
School of Public Health
Mwiya, Mwiya
Zambia, Lusaka
University Teaching Hospital Lusaka
Kankasa, Chipepo
Zambia, Lusaka
University Teaching Hospital Lusaka
Bass, Judith K.
United States, Baltimore
Johns Hopkins University
Bolton, Paul A.
United States, Baltimore
Johns Hopkins University
Statistics
Citations: 207
Authors: 9
Affiliations: 4
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1080/09540120802032643
ISSN:
09540121
e-ISSN:
13600451
Research Areas
Food Security
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Mental Health
Study Approach
Qualitative
Study Locations
Zambia
Participants Gender
Female