Non–Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment by People Living with HIV/AIDS in Black Communities in South Africa: Socio-Cultural Challenges

With approximately 5.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS, South Africa has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the world. HIV tends to strike the most vulnerable people in society, and is often associated with high risk behaviours, which inevitably leads to stigmatization. Through an integration of theatre and development theory, I propose to investigate the potential of using theatre as a community event that raises awareness of collective issues and that offers new hope to people living with HIV. I suggest that theatre can educate the heart and put a human face on HIV/AIDS, thus catalyzing a healing process at the community level. By targeting township youth, those who are currently driving the virus, an interactive theatre style, such as participatory methodology, can effectively move beyond didactic education. In participatory theatre, the target group is incorporated into the theatrical representation of their circumstances through the performance of personal testimonies associated with HIV. Here, the power of theatre lies in its ability to produce individual reactions in the audience, which ultimately result in a collective experience and elevated consciousness through the discussion that ensues. The community is thus empowered to engage in a new ap proach to HIV/AIDS. Can such a performance prevent further infections by exposing the consequences and realities of living with AIDS? While a testcase would be ideal in the affirmation of these ideas, I hope to bring a new approach to community theatre through a combination of theories from both theatre and international development studies.

Download Full-text

Acceptability and feasibility of short message service to improve ART medication adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS receiving antiretroviral treatment at Adama hospital medical college, Central Ethiopia

BMC Public Health ◽

10.1186/s12889-019-7687-z ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tamrat Endebu ◽

Alem Deksisa ◽

Warku Dugasa ◽

Ermiyas Mulu ◽

Tilahun Bogale

Keyword(s):

Medication Adherence ◽

Antiretroviral Therapy ◽

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Short Message Service ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Short Message ◽

Central Ethiopia ◽

Message Service ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Abstract Background People living with HIV/AIDS are facing sub-optimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy. Short message service innovative strategies have been recommended by the national strategy to support medication adherence among HIV positive people. Thus, this study was conducted to examine the feasibility and acceptability of a short message service to improve medication adherence among people living with HIV/AIDS receiving Antiretroviral Treatment. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey, from February 5 to 30, 2018, among 422 randomly selected adults living with HIV/AIDS receiving antiretroviral treatment at Adama Hospital. Interviewer administered structured questionnaire was used to collect quantitative data on the feasibility and acceptability of short message services, socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of participants. Qualitative data were also collected from two focus groups to supplement the quantitative findings. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with the feasibility and acceptability of short message services. Results Of 420 participants responded to our questionnaire, about nine of ten patients (93.8%) possessed had a mobile phone. Most of the patients (90.9%) were willing to accept SMS to improve their medication adherence. Patients who were in young age, early adult, disclosed their HIV status, having cell phone always and believe short message service aid adherence were more likely to accept short messages on adherence. On the other hand, frequent ART Clinic visit and perceived low confidentiality of short message service were negatively associated with acceptability of short message service. Conclusion The acceptability of short message service on adherence to antiretroviral therapy was high among people living with HIV/AIDS central Ethiopia. Authors recommend further studies, piloting or experimenting, that validate the acceptability, feasibility, effectiveness, and scalability of the intervention.

Download Full-text

An Afro-Christian ministry to people living with HIV/Aids in South Africa

HTS Teologiese Studies / Theological Studies ◽

10.4102/hts.v61i3.466 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 61 (3) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Matsobane J. Manala

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

World View ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Raising Awareness ◽

Aids Pandemic ◽

Persons Living With Hiv ◽

Pain And Suffering ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

The Church ◽

Hiv Aids

The HIV/Aids pandemic is cause for great frustration to the developing countries in their attempts to improve the quality of life of their citizens. HIV/Aids in South Africa demands a specific approach to the Christian ministry in which the African world-view is acknowledged. In order for the church to play a relevant and meaningful role in combating the HIV/Aids pandemic, it is necessary that the church should be informed of the existential situation of persons living with HIV/Aids. This information is vital for raising awareness and engendering sensitivity among Christians. In the context of such awareness of and sensitivity to human pain and suffering, the community of the faithful should be moved to heed Christ’s call to show neighbourly love. The possible role of the church in caring for those who are already infected with HIV is defined.

Download Full-text

The Validity of the Substance Abuse and Mental Illness Symptom Screener (SAMISS) in People Living with HIV/AIDS in Primary HIV Care in Cape Town, South Africa

AIDS and Behavior ◽

10.1007/s10461-014-0698-y ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 18 (6) ◽

pp. 1133-1141 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Erica Breuer ◽

Kevin Stoloff ◽

Landon Myer ◽

Soraya Seedat ◽

Dan J. Stein ◽

...

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Substance Abuse ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Cape Town ◽

Hiv Care ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Download Full-text

Home-Based Caregiving for People Living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa

Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved ◽

10.1353/hpu.2013.0091 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 697-705 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Theresa M. Mieh ◽

Juliet Iwelunmor ◽

Collins O. Airhihenbuwa

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Home Based ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Download Full-text

Impact of Socioeconomic Inequality on Access, Adherence, and Outcomes of Antiretroviral Treatment Services for People Living with HIV/AIDS in Vietnam

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0168687 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 11 (12) ◽

pp. e0168687 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Bach Xuan Tran ◽

Jongnam Hwang ◽

Long Hoang Nguyen ◽

Anh Tuan Nguyen ◽

Noah Reed Knowlton Latkin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Socioeconomic Inequality ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Treatment Services ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Download Full-text

The Time Gap between Repeated Re-Happening Opportunistic Infections among People Living with HIV/AIDS Commencing Antiretroviral Treatment

Clinical Medicine Research ◽

10.11648/j.cmr.20150401.13 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

pp. 11

Author(s):

Habtamu Mellie Bizuayehu

Keyword(s):

Antiretroviral Treatment ◽

Opportunistic Infections ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Time Gap ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

Hiv Aids

Download Full-text

The Impact of HIV/AIDS Regarding Informal Social Security: Issues and Perspectives from a South African Context

Potchefstroom Electronic Law Journal/Potchefstroomse Elektroniese Regsblad ◽

10.17159/1727-3781/2010/v13i3a2693 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 13 (3) ◽

pp. 407

Author(s):

Clarence Itumeleng Tshoose

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Social Security ◽

South African ◽

Social Impact ◽

Social Assistance ◽

People Living With Hiv ◽

Social Reciprocity ◽

Living With Hiv ◽

The Impact ◽

Hiv Aids

The purpose of the article is to examine the right to social assistance for households living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa. In particular, the article focuses on the impact of this pandemic on households' access to social assistance benefits in the wake of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which has wrought untold sorrow and suffering to the overwhelming majority of households in South Africa. The article analyses the consequences of HIV/AIDS in relation to households' support systems, care and dependency burdens, and the extent to which the household members either acknowledge the illness (enabling them to better engage with treatment options) or alternatively, deny its existence. The article commences by reviewing the literature concerning the effects and social impact of HIV/AIDS on the livelihoods of households and their families. The social reciprocity that underpins households' livelihoods is briefly recapitulated. The article concludes that, while recent policy developments are to be welcomed, the current South African legal system of social security does not provide adequate cover for both people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. More remains to be done in order to provide a more comprehensive social security system for the excluded and marginalised people who are living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

Download Full-text