Determinants of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among Women in Southern Malawi: Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives

Background. The purpose of this study was to explore healthcare providers’ perspectives on antiretroviral (ART) adherence in two ART clinics in southern Malawi. Nonadherence to ART is a significant hindrance to the success of HIV/AIDS treatment. Methods. A one-on-one semistructured interview was con...

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Main Authors: Ogbochi McKinney, Naomi N. Modeste, Jerry W. Lee, Peter C. Gleason, Gisele Maynard-Tucker
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:AIDS Research and Treatment
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/489370
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author Ogbochi McKinney
Naomi N. Modeste
Jerry W. Lee
Peter C. Gleason
Gisele Maynard-Tucker
author_facet Ogbochi McKinney
Naomi N. Modeste
Jerry W. Lee
Peter C. Gleason
Gisele Maynard-Tucker
author_sort Ogbochi McKinney
collection DOAJ
description Background. The purpose of this study was to explore healthcare providers’ perspectives on antiretroviral (ART) adherence in two ART clinics in southern Malawi. Nonadherence to ART is a significant hindrance to the success of HIV/AIDS treatment. Methods. A one-on-one semistructured interview was conducted with eight healthcare providers in two ART clinics in rural and urban southern Malawi. The interviews were focused on factors facilitating or hindering ART adherence and strategies to improve adherence. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and content-analyzed with the use of the constant comparison approach. Results. Of the eight participants, 63% were between the ages of 20 and 30 years and 37% were HIV counselors. Factors facilitating adherence include patients’ belief and knowledge, HIV/AIDS education, and a supportive network. Barriers to adherence include discrimination, nondisclosure of HIV status, food insecurity, medication side effects, religion, misinformation, and staff and drug shortages. Strategies to improve adherence were identified by participants to include nutritional/food supplementation for malnourished or undernourished patients and patient counseling. Conclusions. There is a need for collaborative efforts between healthcare providers, patients, and faith-based organizations to identify and address hindrances and facilitators to patients’ adherence. Further research is needed to develop strategies addressing religion, staff, and drug shortages.
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spelling doaj-art-e324cfcc090d43f5879af2a9223abb0d2025-08-20T02:21:24ZengWileyAIDS Research and Treatment2090-12402090-12592014-01-01201410.1155/2014/489370489370Determinants of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among Women in Southern Malawi: Healthcare Providers’ PerspectivesOgbochi McKinney0Naomi N. Modeste1Jerry W. Lee2Peter C. Gleason3Gisele Maynard-Tucker4School of Public Health, Loma Linda University, 24951 North Circle Drive, Nichol Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USASchool of Public Health, Loma Linda University, 24951 North Circle Drive, Nichol Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USASchool of Public Health, Loma Linda University, 24951 North Circle Drive, Nichol Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USASchool of Public Health, Loma Linda University, 24951 North Circle Drive, Nichol Hall, Loma Linda, CA 92350, USAUniversity of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Center for the Study of Women, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USABackground. The purpose of this study was to explore healthcare providers’ perspectives on antiretroviral (ART) adherence in two ART clinics in southern Malawi. Nonadherence to ART is a significant hindrance to the success of HIV/AIDS treatment. Methods. A one-on-one semistructured interview was conducted with eight healthcare providers in two ART clinics in rural and urban southern Malawi. The interviews were focused on factors facilitating or hindering ART adherence and strategies to improve adherence. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and content-analyzed with the use of the constant comparison approach. Results. Of the eight participants, 63% were between the ages of 20 and 30 years and 37% were HIV counselors. Factors facilitating adherence include patients’ belief and knowledge, HIV/AIDS education, and a supportive network. Barriers to adherence include discrimination, nondisclosure of HIV status, food insecurity, medication side effects, religion, misinformation, and staff and drug shortages. Strategies to improve adherence were identified by participants to include nutritional/food supplementation for malnourished or undernourished patients and patient counseling. Conclusions. There is a need for collaborative efforts between healthcare providers, patients, and faith-based organizations to identify and address hindrances and facilitators to patients’ adherence. Further research is needed to develop strategies addressing religion, staff, and drug shortages.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/489370
spellingShingle Ogbochi McKinney
Naomi N. Modeste
Jerry W. Lee
Peter C. Gleason
Gisele Maynard-Tucker
Determinants of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among Women in Southern Malawi: Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives
AIDS Research and Treatment
title Determinants of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among Women in Southern Malawi: Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives
title_full Determinants of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among Women in Southern Malawi: Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives
title_fullStr Determinants of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among Women in Southern Malawi: Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives
title_full_unstemmed Determinants of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among Women in Southern Malawi: Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives
title_short Determinants of Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence among Women in Southern Malawi: Healthcare Providers’ Perspectives
title_sort determinants of antiretroviral therapy adherence among women in southern malawi healthcare providers perspectives
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/489370
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