Facilitators and barriers to antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-positive adolescents living in Tanzania

Background Adolescents living with HIV face substandard outcomes along the continuum of care, including higher rates of poor adherence and virologic failure. Support groups have been identified as a method to improve adherence, but there is insufficient evidence regarding their effectiveness. This study seeks to examine the protective influences for and barriers to antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence in HIV-positive adolescents living in Tanzania. Methods This is a qualitative study conducted in Tanzania from January to March 2018. The sample of adolescents aged 10-19 (n = 33) was purposefully selected based on age, gender, and support group attendance to capture a broad range of experiences. Participants completed an in-depth interview, covering topics such as retention in HIV services, support group experiences, and joys and challenges of adolescent life. Interviews were coded and themes related to ART adherence were identified and summarized. Results Support groups helped promote adherence by improving adolescents’ knowledge and confidence. Participants associated joining support groups with an improvement in health. Almost every participant described the significant positive influence a treatment supporter had on adherence. Adolescents’ daily schedules and emotional state served as a barrier to adherence. Furthermore, adherence was negatively impacted by participants’ fear of accidental disclosure. Conclusion Logistical and psychosocial factors can hinder adherence. Interventions that provide both education and psychosocial support, such as peer support groups, have the potential to improve health outcomes for this population, but may not address more persistent barriers to adherence rooted in lack of treatment support from family members or friends who have not been disclosed to, or lack of transportation funds/food security.

Spousal intimacy, type of antiretroviral drug and antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV patients in Bandung, Indonesia

Background: Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has been proven effective in reducing the mortality rates among people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH). However, poor adherence to ART may result in treatment failure. Few studies examine the relationship between spousal intimacy, type of ART and ART adherence. This study aimed to investigate the association between spousal intimacy, type of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and antiretroviral therapy adherence among PLWH in Bandung, Indonesia.Design and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 115 adult PLWH who were receiving ART at least for 6 months in RSUD Kota Bandung, they were selected with consecutive sampling. The data were analyzed using chi-square test.Results: The majority of PLWH (61.74%) reported had high level of spousal intimacy, about 93.91% PLWH used first line of ART, and 88.69% had high adherence in consuming ART. Spousal intimacy had a significant relationship to antiretroviral adherence (p<0.001) and type of ART (p=0.031, OR: 7.35) significantly associated with antiretroviral adherence.Conclusions: PLWH who have high levels of spousal intimacy also have high levels of antiretroviral adherence. PLWH on first-line ART were 7.3 times more adherent on ART.