Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is essential to achieving an improved cluster of differentiation-4 (CD4) count, viral load, and quality of life while preventing drug resistance. Medication adherence among people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is influenced by different factors. Several studies have identified adherence promoters and inhibitors that emanate from the internal and external environment. We conducted six (6) individual in-depth interviews and three (3) focus group discussions to explore adherence behaviour among patients diagnosed with HIV in a teaching hospital in Accra, Ghana. Participants were drawn from the intervention arm of a mobile phone adherence intervention program. They had been enrolled in the study for at least six (6) months before the interviews are conducted. Results revealed that participants adhered to treatment irrespective of prompts from significant others. Adherence promoters included perception of ART as part of daily routines, benefits of the ART, awareness of regimen, access to food, and transparency. Adherence inhibitors were forgetfulness, secrecy, waiting time, religious beliefs, and sleep. People living with HIV (PLWHIV) have the personal motivation to take medication; however, negative perceptions about HIV must be addressed to ensure optimum adherence behaviour.

No abstract

Introduction The correlates of quality of life originating from the demographic characteristics, comorbidities and sources of social support among persons living with tuberculosis remain underreported. The aim of this study was to examine the correlates of quality of life among persons living with tuberculosis within Greater Accra, Ghana. Methods A cross-sectional survey design was used to assess the correlates of quality of life among 250 randomly sampled persons living with tuberculosis. Quality of life was assessed with the Quality of Life Brief Version (WHOQOL-BREF) questionnaire and correlates were derived using Spearman rho correlations. Chi-square analyses assessed associations among respondent characteristics. Results All four quality of life domains (physical, psychological, social relationship and environmental) of persons living with tuberculosis were positively correlated. Furthermore, receiving social support from family or friends correlated positively with respondents’ quality of life. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection and receiving social support mainly from work colleagues or religious institutions correlated negatively with respondents’ quality of life domains. Other correlates of quality of life included age, pleuritis with pleural effusion, number of dependants and distance to tuberculosis treatment centres. Social support from family and friends corresponded with better quality of life among persons living with tuberculosis. Conclusion The quality of life domains of persons living with tuberculosis are interrelated and can be enhanced by social support. Healthcare providers should involve the significant others of persons living with tuberculosis, human immunodeficiency virus and pleuritis with pleural effusion in their care to promote patients’ quality of life.

No abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious airborne disease caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Narendran & Swaminathan, 2016).Although it is an age-old life-threatening disease, currently it is the leading cause of death among children who experience infectious diseases worldwide (UNICEF, 2020). In 2020, out of the estimated 9.9 million persons who fell ill with TB globally, children below the age of 15 years accounted for about 11% (1.1 million) (World Health Organization, 2021a, 2021b. In Ghana, 5% of all new TB case notifications in 2020 were among children below the age of 15 years (World Health Organization, 2021a). Ill children living with TB will require considerable parental or guardian care to survive. Mothers typically play the traditional role of primary caregivers for children in most settings, including Ghana (Kyu et al., 2018). As such, it is important to learn if and how the mothers' burden of care associated with their caregiver role changes when their children fall ill with TB and must be nursed back to health.