No abstract

BackgroundIndividuals living with HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa generally take more than 90% of prescribed doses of antiretroviral therapy (ART). This number exceeds the levels of adherence observed in North America and dispels early scale-up concerns that adherence would be inadequate in settings of extreme poverty. This paper offers an explanation and theoretical model of ART adherence success based on the results of an ethnographic study in three sub-Saharan African countries.Methods and FindingsDeterminants of ART adherence for HIV-infected persons in sub-Saharan Africa were examined with ethnographic research methods. 414 in-person interviews were carried out with 252 persons taking ART, their treatment partners, and health care professionals at HIV treatment sites in Jos, Nigeria; Dar es Salaam, Tanzania; and Mbarara, Uganda. 136 field observations of clinic activities were also conducted. Data were examined using category construction and interpretive approaches to analysis. Findings indicate that individuals taking ART routinely overcome economic obstacles to ART adherence through a number of deliberate strategies aimed at prioritizing adherence: borrowing and “begging” transport funds, making “impossible choices” to allocate resources in favor of treatment, and “doing without.” Prioritization of adherence is accomplished through resources and help made available by treatment partners, other family members and friends, and health care providers. Helpers expect adherence and make their expectations known, creating a responsibility on the part of patients to adhere. Patients adhere to promote good will on the part of helpers, thereby ensuring help will be available when future needs arise.ConclusionAdherence success in sub-Saharan Africa can be explained as a means of fulfilling social responsibilities and thus preserving social capital in essential relationships.

A substantial proportion of HIV-infected pregnant women never disclosed their result to a partner or a close female relative. Lack of disclosure may have limited their ability to engage in preventive behaviors or to obtain the necessary emotional support for coping with their serostatus or illness.

Norma Ware and colleagues conducted a large qualitative study among patients in HIV treatment programs in sub-Saharan Africa to investigate reasons for missed visits and provide an explanation for disengagement from care.

The effect of depression on HIV disease progression was examined among 996 HIV-positive Tanzanian women participating in a trial on micronutrients and pregnancy outcomes, vertical transmission, and disease progression. Depression and social support were measured 2 months after HIV screening and every 6 to 12 months thereafter. Depression measures from pregnancy and more than 12 months postpartum were included in this analysis. Participants' clinical condition and access to supportive individual or group counseling was assessed throughout the 6 to 8 years of follow-up. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the time-varying effect of depression on progression to HIV clinical stage III/IV (World Health Organization) and all-cause mortality. Participation in group or individual counseling and baseline social support were also examined. More than half (57%) of the study sample had symptoms comparable with depression at least once during the follow-up period. Controlling for sociodemographic variables, psychosocial support, and clinical condition at enrollment, depression was associated with an increased risk of disease progression (HIV clinical stage III/IV [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.61, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.28 to 2.03] and mortality [HR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.89 to 3.71]). Depression is common among HIV-infected Tanzanian women and increases the risk of disease progression. Screening for depression and providing psychosocial interventions should be considered part of comprehensive HIV care.