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305353
Antiretroviral therapy adherence determinants of women in southern Malawi: Healthcare providers' perspectives
Monday, November 17, 2014
Naomi Modeste, DrPH
,
Health Promotion and Education, Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Loma Linda, CA
Jerry W. Lee, PhD
,
Health Promotion and Education, Loma Linda University School of Public Health, Loma Linda, CA
Peter Gleason, Ph.D.
,
School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA
Gisele Maynard-Tucker, PhD
,
Center for the Study of Women, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA
Background: Non-adherence to antiretroviral (ART) medication is a significant hindrance to the success of HIV/AIDS treatment. The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives of healthcare providers on ART medication adherence in two HIV treatment centers in southern Malawi. Methods: A one-on-one semi-structured interview was conducted with 8 healthcare providers who work directly with HIV/AIDS patients in two ART Clinics in rural and urban southern Malawi. The interview was focused on factors that facilitate and hinder ART adherence and strategies to improve adherence. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed and content analyzed with the use of constant comparison approach. Results: Barriers to adherence ranged from discrimination and non-disclosure, food insecurity, shortages of staff and ART medication, and medication side effects. Factors facilitating adherence included patients’ belief and knowledge, education, and supportive network. Strategies to improve adherence were nutritional supplementation and patients' counseling. Conclusions: Although participants were able to identify hindrances and factors facilitating adherence, barriers were also identified that may affect healthcare providers’ ability to provide ART to patients regularly. Further research is needed to develop strategies addressing staff and drug shortages and how that could improve adherence to ART.
Learning Areas:
Chronic disease management and prevention
Diversity and culture
Other professions or practice related to public health
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health
Learning Objectives:
Assess healthcare providers’ perspective on adherence to ART in two hospitals and determine the causes of adherence and non-adherence.
Keyword(s): Adherence, Women and HIV/AIDS
Presenting author's disclosure statement:Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I spent 12 years of my life in Nigeria and witenessed first-hand issues of poverty, poor access to healthcare, chronic disease and more. That fueled my desire to pursue a DrPH in Health Educations at Loma Linda University so that I could contribute in the fight against HIV and AIDS and other infectious diseases globally through research, education, and serving others.
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.
