This paper examines the attitudes and beliefs of HIV/AIDS patients with excellent adherence to highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) and how they differ from those with suboptimal adherence. Forty-four persons with HIV/AIDS, 28 men and 16 women, participated in a qualitative semi-structured interview which was based on the Health Belief Model. The main outcomes were themes consistent with several dimensions of this model, reflecting differences in the health-related attitudes and beliefs of the excellent adherers compared to the suboptimal adherers. Patients with excellent adherence voiced the following themes when compared to less adherent patients: (1) believed adherence rates needed to be 90-100% for medication efficacy; (2) trusted their primary providers greatly; (3) took medications even when actively using substances of abuse; (4) were open about their HIV status and received substantial social support; (5) cited staying healthy as their key motivator; (6) were not actively depressed; all had normal CESD scores. Our study suggests that patients with excellent adherence to HAART differ from their less adherent counterparts in terms of key health-related attitudes and beliefs. Identifying and studying excellent adherers provides new insights and strategies for enhancing adherence to HAART.

governed with diverse and contesting ways of understanding, filled with contradictions, categorization, labelling and marginalisation. Hence, these ways of knowing problematizes TLA and its pupils in a normative ways. It situates them outside the 'normal' 'Anga FakaTonga' (Tongan ways) mainly because their distinctive behaviours are perceived as falling outside the 'Anga FakaTonga' awareness of acceptable behaviour and attitude. It is, therefore, position Leitis as 'children of the devil'. The TLA and its pupils are variously described as being at-risk, vulnerable, stigmatised and lacking agency. Results Moreover, their lives are equated with having a 'lack of hope and mobility' so they are seen as being on a pathway that leads to 'poverty' and isolation from normative model and space in Tongan society. We recognised that through positioning outside the 'normal Anga FakaTonga', there is a tendency to perceive TLA and its pupils in a simplistic way and thus treat them as a marginal community. Conclusion However, it must be acknowledged that this tendency to stereotype TLA and its pupils displays a lack of awareness for their: