Master of Public Health - MPH / Background: HIV has reached epidemic proportions globally with Sub-Saharan Africa carrying the greatest burden (71%). It is estimated that there are 37 million people world-wide infected with HIV, and an estimated 6.8 million live in South Africa. Globally there were 2.1 million adolescents living with HIV in 2014. Improved access to Antiretrotiviral Therapy (ART) has led to a steep decline in HIV incidence and HIV-related mortality. Yet despite these successes in terms of HIV treatment outcomes, HIV-related mortality amongst adolescents has increased. Adolescents are defined by the WHO as individuals between 10 and 19 years old. WHO states that adolescents have poorer access to ART, are at a higher risk of disengaging from care and have special needs to keep them motivated to remain in care. The uptake of adolescents into the South African ART programme is low and those that are enrolled into the programme have poorer adherence than their adult counterparts. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore the factors that influence adherence to ART amongst adolescents in a primary health care clinic in a low socio-economic, urban setting in Cape Town. Methodology: An exploratory qualitative design was employed where data was collected through two key informant interviews with staff from an urban primary health care clinic. Four focus group discussions and eight individual in-depth interviews were held with adolescents and young people who accessed ART at this health facility. Audio data was digitally recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data was analyzed using content analysis. Results: The study identified school commitments, strained teacher-pupil relationships, negative household dynamics and ill-treatment by non-biological caregivers as major reported barriers to adherence. In addition, poor service delivery, missing and misplaced files and long waiting times came under major criticism. Fear of intended or unintended disclosure of HIV status, perceived stigma and discrimination, treatment fatigue and having unstructured lives, profoundly influenced ART adherence. Finally, having a strong support system, disclosing to a trustworthy person and having goals and ambitions served as motivators to remain adherent to ART. Conclusions: This study highlighted the complexity of ART adherence amongst this age group due to school factors, social factors, health services factors, therapy related factors and patient factors. Interventions to improve adherence should aim to address treatment fatigue, disclosure, household dynamics, service delivery factors, as well as the impact of school commitments and symptoms of depression on ART adherence amongst adolescents.

Master of Public Health - MPH / Poor adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among paediatric and adolescent patients remains a big concern to health workers at Onandjokwe CDC clinic in Oshikoto Region of Namibia. Despite successes in the scale up of ART in Oshikoto Region the clinic experienced high prevalence of poor adherence to ART among adolescent patients. Out of 631 adolescents alive and on ART in this clinic, 154 (24%) had records of poor drug adherence between Jan 2015 and August 2015; which compared poorly to only 4 % of 7289 adults currently on ART who have records of poor adherence during the same period. The aim of the current study was to explore barriers to adherence to antiretroviral therapy among these adolescents. Among the study population of 631 adolescents on ART in Onandjokwe, a sample population of 154 had records of poor adherence (scored below 85%) to ART between June 2015 and August of the same year were considered for the study but among them 16 adolescents were recruited as the study sample. Additionally, 5 caregivers of adolescents on ART, 6 Healthcare Providers were selected as key informants. A voice recorder and field notes were being used during data collection. Two 2 sessions of Focus Group Discussions (FGD) were held with adolescents while 2 FGD sessions held with 5 caregivers and 6 healthcare providers to elicit expert opinions. Lastly, 5 In-depth interviews were conducted with individual adolescents who missed ART medicine follow up for 1 month or more between January and August of 2015. Data Analysis was performed using hand manipulation by grouping responses into main study objectives/themes. Data cleaning, translation of voice transcription from Oshiwambo to English language and incorporating of non-verbal expressions was also done. The results indicate that factors contributing to poor ART adherence among adolescents are patient and family related, socio-economic, and related to substance abuse, stigma and discrimination, health care and health systems, as well as the environment and weather.

Master of Public Health - MPH / Background: Zimbabwe has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in sub-Saharan Africa, with the adult prevalence rate at 15%. The HIV prevalence is highest among adult women, at 18%. Mother-to-child transmission is the second leading cause of HIV in Zimbabwe. Therefore, provision of anti-retroviral therapy to pregnant women is important in reducing mother-to-child transmission. In 2012, the World Health Organisation formally adopted ART guidelines known as "Option B Plus", where triple therapy is provided to pregnant women for life, regardless of CD4 count. Zimbabwe subsequently adopted Option B Plus in September 2013. However, the success of ART depends on adherence to treatment. Lack of adherence to treatment leads to an increased risk of opportunistic infections and drug resistance, which is costly to treat. The aim of the study was to explore pre-and post-partum barriers to anti-retroviral therapy for HIV-positive women initiated onto Option B Plus in Harare, Zimbabwe. Methodology: Descriptive qualitative methods were used to explore the barriers to ART adherence for pre-and post-partum HIV-positive women initiated onto Option B Plus in Harare, Zimbabwe. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted in Shona with 20 non-adherent pre-and post-partum HIV-positive women and four key informants who are health workers from two identified health facilities (Edith Opperman Polyclinic and Kuwadzana Polyclinic). The interviews were recorded, transcribed and translated into English. The data was analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Health facility and individual factors emerged as barriers to adherence. Heavy workload and staff shortages, negative health worker attitude, cost of accessing health facilities, medicine shortages and detrimental health facility policies were all health facility related barriers identified by both key informants and the women. Individual barriers were related to difficulty in navigating the early days after diagnosis and treatment, stigma, intimate partner dynamics and religion. Conclusion: Despite free, decentralised provision of ART, barriers to adherence still exist. Many of the barriers have been articulated in previous research that focused on prevention of- mother-to-child transmission regimens, as well as ART regimens for the general population. The fact that the barriers remain suggests that the barriers are complex and addressing them will require tackling social constraints such as stigma and gender roles that pose a significant barrier to adherence.

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is crucial to ensure viral suppression. In the scientific community it is widely accepted that an adherence level of at least 90% is necessary to achieve viral suppression. This study uses pharmacy refill records to describe antiretroviral adherence in HIV-positive patients in Ugu District and to describe pharmacy refill records as reliable monitoring method of antiretroviral therapy. In total, 61 patients’ records were reviewed. Overall, 82% of participants (n=50) achieved an optimum adherence level of at least 90%. Although 38% (n=19) of these participants did not show any related viral suppression. A statistically significant relationship between adherence and viral suppression was not demonstrated. Therefore, pharmacy refill records cannot be recommended as an alternative method of monitoring response to antiretroviral therapy, but laboratory tests including CD4 cell count and or viral load must be combined to pharmacy refill method for monitoring of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-29T13:17:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Sandra Regina de Oliveira Rodrigues dos Reis.pdf: 619670 bytes, checksum: 05c774d13bea8efc80cb88acd2ae062c (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-05-18 / The adherence to antiretroviral therapy has been highlighted in various studies as an important subject, since it concerns a long term illness which requires changes in the daily routine of the individual who lives with it. Research carried out in prisons has identified a greater incidence of persons living with HIV/aids amongst prisoners than amongst persons living in liberty. In view of that, the object of this research was to analyse a proposition for intervention amongst men living with HIV/aids in the hospital section of a prison. The process was divided into three phases Phase 1 (consultation of patients records in order to obtain CD4 and the level of the virus, the completion of questionnaires and application of research tools), Phase 2 (intervention) and Phase 3 (renewed consultation of patients records to obtain CD4 and the level of the virus and a further completion of questionnaires and application of research tools). The hypothesis was that the individuals who presented a low or insufficient adhesion (to the therapy) in Phase 1, after the intervention would present a high adhesion. As well as altered degrees of adhesion, it was hoped that there would be positive changes in the clinical data (CD4 and the level of the virus). The experimental group consisted of five participants and the control group consisted of three participants. The results obtained showed that the sample was characterized by persons with an average age of 35.25 years and low levels of education. In phase 1 they presented a low or insufficient adhesion, high levels of the virus and low immune levels. After the intervention (Phase 2) the experimental group as one presented high adhesion and better levels of clinical data in distinction to the control group which presented low or insufficient adhesion, unsatisfactory immunological levels and levels of the virus with the exception of one of the participants in the control group who since the beginning presented satisfactory levels of adhesion as well as CD4 and the level of the virus. In conclusion, some important points were demonstrated by this study. One of them is the importance of carrying out research with a focus on adhesion to antiretroviral therapy among this population since there is little research in the literature even though the incidence of the disease is high. The other point is to widen a proposition like this one, to be carried out with more participants seeing that positive results were found / A adesão à terapia antirretroviral (TARV) tem sido destacada em diversos estudos, uma vez que se trata de uma doença crônica que exige mudanças de rotina do indivíduo que vive com ela. Pesquisas realizadas em presídios identificaram uma maior prevalência de pessoas vivendo com HIV/aids em presídios se comparadas, proporcionalmente, às pessoas vivendo em liberdade. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o efeito de uma intervenção nos valores de adesão adotados em oito homens vivendo com HIV/aids em um Centro Hospitalar do Sistema Penitenciário do Estado de São Paulo. O procedimento foi dividido em três Momentos. No Momento 1 ocorreu a obtenção dos dados clínicos (CD4 e carga viral), a partir de consulta a prontuários, a obtenção dos valores de adesão (CEAT-VIH) e obtenção de dados demográficos. No Momento 2 ocorreu a intervenção que se caracterizou por quatro Encontros em grupo, sob a coordenação da pesquisadora, de uma médica infectologista e de uma enfermeira. Nesses Encontros foram apresentadas e discutidas informações sobre a doença. O Momento 3 seguiu o mesmo procedimento do Momento 1, exceto a obtenção de dados demográficos. A hipótese era que os indivíduos que apresentassem adesão baixa/insuficiente indicadas pelo CEAT-VIH e pelos índices sanguíneos (carga viral alta e taxa alta CD4) no Momento 1, após a intervenção, apresentariam adesão alta indicadas pelos dados obtidos no Momento 3. Foram formados dois grupos de participantes: experimental e controle. Cinco participantes constituíram o grupo experimental e três o grupo controle. O primeiro grupo participou de todas as fases e o grupo controle não participou dos Encontros do Momento 2. Os resultados encontrados mostraram que, No Momento 1, a maioria participantes do grupo experimental apresentaram adesão baixa/insuficiente no CEAT e altos níveis virológicos e baixos níveis imunológicos (CD4). Após os Encontros do Momento 2, todos os participantes do grupo experimental apresentaram adesão alta (CEAT) e melhora (aumento em CD4 e diminuição em carga viral?) nos níveis de dados clínicos. Diferentemente, o grupo controle manteve adesão baixa/insuficiente (CEAT) e níveis imunológicos e virológicos insatisfatórios, exceto um dos participantes que sempre apresentou valores satisfatórios quanto aos dados clínicos (CD4 e carga viral). O presente trabalho indicou a importância na continuidade de estudos que investiguem adesão nesse ambiente a fim de se aprimorarem as questões metodológicas e de generalidade

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy is crucial to ensure viral suppression. In the scientific community it is widely accepted that an adherence level of at least 90% is necessary to achieve viral suppression. This study uses pharmacy refill records to describe antiretroviral adherence in HIV-positive patients in Ugu District and to describe pharmacy refill records as reliable monitoring method of antiretroviral therapy. In total, 61 patients’ records were reviewed. Overall, 82% of participants (n=50) achieved an optimum adherence level of at least 90%. Although 38% (n=19) of these participants did not show any related viral suppression. A statistically significant relationship between adherence and viral suppression was not demonstrated. Therefore, pharmacy refill records cannot be recommended as an alternative method of monitoring response to antiretroviral therapy, but laboratory tests including CD4 cell count and or viral load must be combined to pharmacy refill method for monitoring of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-positive patients / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The objectives of the study were (1) to quantify adherence rate among the study participants in the ART unit and (2) to identify factors that contribute to non-adherence. This cross sectional study was carried out at Nekemete referral clinic. Data was collected using a self-developed structured questionnaire where a total of 338 participants grouped into adherent and non-adherent based on a score derived from an adherence assessment were interviewed. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. By using multivariate analysis of variables identified as correlates of adherence, non-adherence was common among those; with age between 18-30 yrs, with no education, who were not married, who had no pipe water supply, those with no electricity in the house, who perceived had no access to assistance from providers, who perceived the health care providers (HCPs) did not keep information confidentially, who had a language barrier with providers, and who were treated with a psychiatric illness. The study concludes that adherence is multi-factorial and varies significantly by individual and care setting. Psychosocial factors were found to impact adherence and should be analysed in more detail by further studies. Three psychosocial factors were independently associated with poor adherence: the study found that patients perceiving poor access; those perceiving problems in information confidentiality (and possibly experiencing stigmatisation); and having psychiatric morbidity (and possibly with less social support) are more likely to be non-adherent. Furthermore, individuals without electricity and those without piped water supply, implying low income, are at risk for non-adherence / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The objectives of the study were (1) to quantify adherence rate among the study participants in the ART unit and (2) to identify factors that contribute to non-adherence. This cross sectional study was carried out at Nekemete referral clinic. Data was collected using a self-developed structured questionnaire where a total of 338 participants grouped into adherent and non-adherent based on a score derived from an adherence assessment were interviewed. Data was analysed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 17.0. By using multivariate analysis of variables identified as correlates of adherence, non-adherence was common among those; with age between 18-30 yrs, with no education, who were not married, who had no pipe water supply, those with no electricity in the house, who perceived had no access to assistance from providers, who perceived the health care providers (HCPs) did not keep information confidentially, who had a language barrier with providers, and who were treated with a psychiatric illness. The study concludes that adherence is multi-factorial and varies significantly by individual and care setting. Psychosocial factors were found to impact adherence and should be analysed in more detail by further studies. Three psychosocial factors were independently associated with poor adherence: the study found that patients perceiving poor access; those perceiving problems in information confidentiality (and possibly experiencing stigmatisation); and having psychiatric morbidity (and possibly with less social support) are more likely to be non-adherent. Furthermore, individuals without electricity and those without piped water supply, implying low income, are at risk for non-adherence / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)