Determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among transgender women in South Africa
Background: Transgender women bear a huge burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in South Africa. However, they are not fully engaged in healthcare across the HIV continuum of care. In addition, transgender women face multiple facets of stigma and discrimination as well as socio-economic inequ...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2024-04-01
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| Series: | South African Family Practice |
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| Online Access: | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5869 |
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| author | Leonashia Leigh-Ann van der Merwe Idah Moyo Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi |
| author_facet | Leonashia Leigh-Ann van der Merwe Idah Moyo Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi |
| author_sort | Leonashia Leigh-Ann van der Merwe |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Transgender women bear a huge burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in South Africa. However, they are not fully engaged in healthcare across the HIV continuum of care. In addition, transgender women face multiple facets of stigma and discrimination as well as socio-economic inequalities, which all have a negative impact on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence.
Objective: The study aimed at exploring and describing the experiences of ART adherence of transgender women living with HIV in the Buffalo City Metro Municipality.
Methods: The study employed an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) design. Twelve participants were enrolled using a snowballing sampling technique. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using an IPA framework.
Results: While exploring determinants to ART adherence among transgender women living with HIV in Buffalo City Metro, two superordinate themes emerged: enablers to ART adherence and psychosocial factors promoting adherence. The study found that factors such as differentiated ART service delivery, ARV medicines-related factors, motivators for taking treatment and support systems facilitated ART adherence.
Conclusion: Emerging from this study is the need to scale up differentiated, person-centred ART service deliveries that will enhance access and adherence to treatment for transgender women.
Contribution: This study provides unique insights on factors enhancing ART adherence among transgender women. There is a paucity of literature on access to HIV care services for key and vulnerable populations, and these findings will be shared in the country and in the region. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-22dbc6d3442a4d178bed467df4a19a69 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2078-6190 2078-6204 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-04-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | South African Family Practice |
| spelling | doaj-art-22dbc6d3442a4d178bed467df4a19a692025-08-20T04:03:12ZengAOSISSouth African Family Practice2078-61902078-62042024-04-01661e1e810.4102/safp.v66i1.58694416Determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among transgender women in South AfricaLeonashia Leigh-Ann van der Merwe0Idah Moyo1Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi2Department of Health Studies, College of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, PretoriaDepartment of Health Studies, College of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, Pretoria, South Africa; and Department of HIV Services, Population Solutions for Health, HarareSchool of Social Sciences, College of Human Sciences, University of South Africa, PretoriaBackground: Transgender women bear a huge burden of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in South Africa. However, they are not fully engaged in healthcare across the HIV continuum of care. In addition, transgender women face multiple facets of stigma and discrimination as well as socio-economic inequalities, which all have a negative impact on antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence. Objective: The study aimed at exploring and describing the experiences of ART adherence of transgender women living with HIV in the Buffalo City Metro Municipality. Methods: The study employed an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) design. Twelve participants were enrolled using a snowballing sampling technique. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews and analysed using an IPA framework. Results: While exploring determinants to ART adherence among transgender women living with HIV in Buffalo City Metro, two superordinate themes emerged: enablers to ART adherence and psychosocial factors promoting adherence. The study found that factors such as differentiated ART service delivery, ARV medicines-related factors, motivators for taking treatment and support systems facilitated ART adherence. Conclusion: Emerging from this study is the need to scale up differentiated, person-centred ART service deliveries that will enhance access and adherence to treatment for transgender women. Contribution: This study provides unique insights on factors enhancing ART adherence among transgender women. There is a paucity of literature on access to HIV care services for key and vulnerable populations, and these findings will be shared in the country and in the region.https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5869art adherencedeterminantshivcontinuity in treatmenttransgender women |
| spellingShingle | Leonashia Leigh-Ann van der Merwe Idah Moyo Azwihangwisi H. Mavhandu-Mudzusi Determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among transgender women in South Africa South African Family Practice art adherence determinants hiv continuity in treatment transgender women |
| title | Determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among transgender women in South Africa |
| title_full | Determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among transgender women in South Africa |
| title_fullStr | Determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among transgender women in South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | Determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among transgender women in South Africa |
| title_short | Determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among transgender women in South Africa |
| title_sort | determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among transgender women in south africa |
| topic | art adherence determinants hiv continuity in treatment transgender women |
| url | https://safpj.co.za/index.php/safpj/article/view/5869 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT leonashialeighannvandermerwe determinantsofantiretroviraltherapyadherenceamongtransgenderwomeninsouthafrica AT idahmoyo determinantsofantiretroviraltherapyadherenceamongtransgenderwomeninsouthafrica AT azwihangwisihmavhandumudzusi determinantsofantiretroviraltherapyadherenceamongtransgenderwomeninsouthafrica |