Use of Alternative Medicine Among African Americans: Implications for ART Adherence

Since the beginning of the epidemic, HIV/AIDS has taken a vast toll on many populations, particularly African Americans. African Americans continue to face a disproportionate burden of HIV/AIDS incidence, prevalence, and mortality.  Since the epidemic began, more than 260,000 African Americans have died an AIDS related death.  One of the major reasons for increased AIDS related mortality among African Americans is non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy (Nelson, 2003, Johnson 2004, Sharpe 2008). Non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy is best understood within a historical context of plantation medicine. Specifically, the presentation describes the influences of how historically rooted traditions and living in racially segregated communities inform  intergenerational messages on non-adherence to antiretroviral therapy and the value of adhering or maintaining traditions and familial messages.  Hence, this presentation presents data generated from a cross sectional mixed methods study entitled, "The Role of Illness Representation on ART Adherence Among African American Women".  The study results and the implications for understanding and addressing African Americans tendency to use alternative and complementary medicine for HIV/AIDS related illness are presented.