Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study, which was conducted from 1 to 31 October 2012, was aimed at describing the main factors that influence adolescent adherence to antiretroviral treatment in three selected health facilities of Palapye Health District. During the one-month data collection period, 30 adolescents were interviewed using semi-structured interview tools. Different factors influencing adolescent adherence to antiretroviral treatment were highlighted and adherence to such treatment was measured using the method of calculating the percentage of returned pills. The mean adherence level for the entire sample was 76.96%, with common factors contributing to poor adherence among adolescents being found to be the poor processing of disclosure, stigma, the accessibility of health facilities, due distance and waiting time, the nature of social support, and feelings toward taking antiretroviral. Thus, by addressing adolescent adherence to antiretroviral treatment, adolescent-adherence counselling before and during treatment is to be shaped, insisting on the preparation of young patient caregivers for the process of disclosure; the reinforcement of positive messages during consultations; insistence on the importance of disclosing HIV status to others; the implementation of the antiretroviral dispensing outreach at health posts; and exerting effort to reduce the waiting time at health facilities prioritising young patients and adolescents. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie, wat vanaf 1 tot 31 Oktober 2012 onderneem is, het ten doel gehad om die hooffaktore te beskryf wat adolessente se getrouheid met antiretrovirale behandeling in drie gekose gesondheidsfasiliteite in die Palapye-gesondheidsdistrik beïnvloed. Semigestruktureerde onderhoude is gedurende die maand lange datainsamelingstydperk met 30 adolessente gevoer. Die studie dui op verskillende faktore wat adolessente se getrouheid met antiretrovirale behandeling beïnvloed, welke getrouheid gemeet is aan die hand van die persentasie teruggestuurde pille. Die gemiddelde getrouheidsvlak vir die algehele steekproef was 76,96%. Algemene faktore wat oënskynlik tot swak behandelingsgetrouheid onder adolessente bydra, is die swak verwerking van MIV-statusonthulling, stigma, die toeganklikheid van gesondheidsfasiliteite, reisafstand en wagtyd, die aard van maatskaplike steun, en gevoelens oor die gebruik van antiretrovirale middels. Hierdie ondersoek na adolessente se getrouheid met antiretrovirale behandeling behoort adolessentberading oor behandelingsgetrouheid voor én gedurende behandeling te rig. Die klem moet in die besonder val op die voorbereiding van die versorgers van jong pasiënte om die onthullingsproses beter te hanteer; die versterking van positiewe boodskappe gedurende konsultasies; die belang van MIV-statusonthulling aan ander; die inwerkingstelling van uitreikaksies om voorskrifte vir antiretrovirale middels by sogenaamde ‘gesondheidstasies’ te resepteer, en daadwerklike pogings om die wagtyd by gesondheidsfasiliteite te verkort, met voorrang aan jong pasiënte en adolessente.