Perceived Social Support and HIV/AIDS Medication Adherence Among African American Women

Abstract

HIV/AIDS incidence is increasing more quickly among women than any other segment of the population. The typical woman with HIV/AIDS is young, in her late 20s, economically challenged, and of childbearing age. Adherence to HIV therapies is critical if patients are to achieve and maintain virologic suppression. The author recruited HIV/AIDS-infected African American women from an outpatient clinic to investigate the women's perceptions of social support and how it affected their medication adherence. She collected data through tape-recorded interviews using a semistructured guide and journaling over a 2-week period. Facilitators of adherence included supportive family members and having young children. Barriers to adherence included perceived stigma, feeling unloved or uncared for, relationship turbulence, and having a husband who was also HIV positive. Although participants reported being "fairly" satisfied with the quality of support they received, emotional support and often instrumental support were most desired and wanted.

Extraversion Personality Traits and Social Support as Determinants of Coping Responses among Individuals with HIV/AIDs

“…Social support plays role of moderator in different coping strategies. According to Edwards [13] factors which enhance adherence of treatment of HIV/AIDS in women family support and having children, while factors which create hindrance in treatment are lack of emotional support and having partner with HIV/AIDS.…”

Intentionality of medication non-adherence among individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Hong Kong

“…In addition, while taking medication in the public may signify a person's serostatus status, individuals with high level of stigma may skip their medication to avoid disclosure of serostatus (Edwards, 2006;Ware et al, 2006).…”

Efeito do suporte social na vida de adultos com HIV/AIDS Effect of social support in the lives of adults with HIV/AIDS

“…40 As the evidence levels, 8 there was the following distribution: an article level II, 31 an article level IV 11 articles level VI. 1,[9][10][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][32][33][34][35][36][37][38][39][40] It was found that most of the findings were derived from cross-sectional and descriptive studies, occurring direct observation of a planned number of people with HIV/ AIDS in a lifetime opportunity, which prevents comparisons of long-term sample characteristics.…”

“…The main barriers to adherence to ART are stigma and turbulent romantic relationships. 32 Social support and positive coping increase the adherence to ART. 40 Satisfaction with social support and coping were the best positive predictors of adherence to ART.…”