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Post-ART Symptoms Were Not the Problem: A Qualitative Study on                 Adherence to ART in HIV-Infected Patients in a Mozambican Rural                 Hospital

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OBJECTIVE: The objective of this qualitative study was to
                explore how clinical symptoms may affect adherence to
                antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV patients, and to explore
                factors, perceptions and attitudes related to adherence to
                therapy. DESIGN: A qualitative study was carried out in the
                context of the prospective cohort study "Evaluation of Immune
                Reconstitution Following Initiation of Highly Active
                Antiretroviral Treatment in Manhica, Mozambique". In-depth
                Interviews were conducted twice in a sub-sample of the study
                cohort (51 participants), at six-month intervals. RESULTS: Most
                participants (73%) knew that AIDS is a chronic disease and that
                ART does not cure it. Nine participants (18%) were non-adherent
                at some point and two (4%) abandoned ART. All participants but
                five reported having symptoms after starting ART, mainly
                attributed to pills needing time to act and body's reaction to
                the treatment. In spite of the perceived severity of the
                symptoms, only two people reported they discontinued the
                treatment due to symptoms. Almost all participants reported
                feeling comfortable with the HIV clinic organization and
                procedures, but afraid of staff being hostile if they did not
                follow the rules or if the health worker visited their home.
                Family was one of the most important source of support according
                participants. Almost all participants with children said that a
                decisive factor to follow the treatment was the desire to be
                able to look after them. CONCLUSIONS: Experiencing symptoms
                after starting treatment was not a barrier to adherence to ART.
                Factors related to adherence included control measures set up by
                the health facility (exhaustive follow up, support, information)
                and family and community support. Indirect ART-related expenses
                did jeopardise adherence.

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Reproducció del document publicat a:
                http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0137336

# metadata.dc.source[].value
Articles publicats en revistes (ISGlobal)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Post-ART Symptoms Were Not the Problem: A Qualitative Study on                 Adherence to ART in HIV-Infected Patients in a Mozambican Rural                 Hospital