278786
Tough pill to swallow: Voices of perinatally HIV-infected youth
Methods: In-depth interviews were conducted to fifteen perinatally HIV-infected women and men between the ages of 18 to 24. Their experiences as a young persons living with HIV were explored. Questions about medication meaning, intake, and adherence, were asked. The interviews were audio-recorded. NVIVO was used for the analysis. Responses were assessed using the Qualitative Interpretative Phenomenology Analysis.
Results: For the participants, the meaning of medication has been changing through their life. In early childhood, medications were only ‘vitamins' to be ‘strong and healthy'; and they acquired the habit of being compliant. Some questioned ‘why to take medication if I feel good and I am healthy'. At early adolescence, they become aware that ‘medication' and ‘being alive' is ‘the same thing'. They face the burden of side effects, multiple doses, and schedules; labeling the intake as ‘good and complicated at the same time'. They associate ‘medications' with body image and with interference with studying and social activities.
Conclusion: For the participants, medication means ‘life'. Adherence seems to be associated with social issues and not with being able to remember or understand the benefits of the therapy. Programs addressing the transition of childhood to adulthood should incorporate the social dimension of adherence.
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Social and behavioral sciences
Learning Objectives:
Discuss the perception about medication among HIV prenatally infected youth.
Explore the dynamic and evolving nature of the meaning of "medication" among the participants.
Describe the challenges and advantages of using in-depth interviews with the study population.
Keywords: Adherence, Adolescent Health
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a PhD student. I am a Certified Health Educator Specialist. I have been working in research with HIV positive and at risk population for 8 years. This study has been approved by my dissertation committee. I will be presenting partial findings.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.