TY - JOUR
T1 - "What if I got rejected by the girl?
T2 - I would rather stop the pills": barriers and facilitators of adherence to antiretroviral therapy for emerging adults aged 18-29 living with HIV in Zimbabwe
AU - Jopling, Rebecca
AU - Mutsvuke, Wilson
AU - Fertig, Madison
AU - O'Cleirigh, Conall
AU - Mangezi, Walter
AU - Abas, Melanie
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - Emerging adults aged 18-29 have high rates of viral non-suppression, and poorer adherence to ART when compared to older adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 emerging adults in Zimbabwe who had a recent history of viral non-suppression, to explore barriers and facilitators of adherence to ART. Interviews were coded using inductive thematic analysis. The mean age of participants was 23, 65% were male, and 79% reported acquiring HIV at birth. Twelve barriers to adherence were identified. Hiding HIV status due to the possible negative consequences of disclosure had a significant impact on adherence to ART. This was particularly important for emerging adults navigating starting intimate relationships. Being away from home, poverty, poor mental health, isolation, significant life events, alcohol, health systems barriers, and stigma were reported as barriers to adherence. Support from peers and family after disclosure of HIV status, phone-based reminders, problem-solving strategies to adhere, knowing others living with HIV, acted as facilitators to adherence to ART. Beliefs about medicines and relationships with health care providers acted as both barriers and facilitators to adherence. Interventions to reduce stigma, foster peer support, and therapy for common mental disorders could facilitate emerging adults aged 18-29 to adhere to ART.
AB - Emerging adults aged 18-29 have high rates of viral non-suppression, and poorer adherence to ART when compared to older adults. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 emerging adults in Zimbabwe who had a recent history of viral non-suppression, to explore barriers and facilitators of adherence to ART. Interviews were coded using inductive thematic analysis. The mean age of participants was 23, 65% were male, and 79% reported acquiring HIV at birth. Twelve barriers to adherence were identified. Hiding HIV status due to the possible negative consequences of disclosure had a significant impact on adherence to ART. This was particularly important for emerging adults navigating starting intimate relationships. Being away from home, poverty, poor mental health, isolation, significant life events, alcohol, health systems barriers, and stigma were reported as barriers to adherence. Support from peers and family after disclosure of HIV status, phone-based reminders, problem-solving strategies to adhere, knowing others living with HIV, acted as facilitators to adherence to ART. Beliefs about medicines and relationships with health care providers acted as both barriers and facilitators to adherence. Interventions to reduce stigma, foster peer support, and therapy for common mental disorders could facilitate emerging adults aged 18-29 to adhere to ART.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85189526880&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/09540121.2024.2332462
DO - 10.1080/09540121.2024.2332462
M3 - Article
C2 - 38537178
SN - 0954-0121
VL - 36
SP - 168
EP - 178
JO - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
JF - AIDS Care - Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of AIDS/HIV
IS - sup1
ER -
