Marseille 2007
Marseille 2007
Abstract book
Go Back

Abstract #161  -  Care Arrangements in the era of ART
Session:
  26.19: Posters B (Poster) on Tuesday   in  Chaired by
Authors:
  Presenting Author:   Ms Pride Linda - Amsterdam School of Social Science Research, Netherlands
 
  Additional Authors:   
Aim:
Introduction: By the end of 2003, South Africa had the highest number of people living with HIV and AIDS in the world, with over 5.3 million people living with HIV/AIDS, and women accounting for more than half of these figures. With the continued rise in HIV prevalence and incidence rates South Africa, rapid scale up of antiretroviral therapy across the country is essential to combat the pandemic. However, the magnitude of the social and community impact on the extent of adherence of individuals to their antiretroviral therapy demands more in-depth assessment. Aim: This study aims to investigate the community transformations that have been brought about in caring for and treating HIV/AIDS in PLWHA as a result of the introduction of ART. Following on from this the study aims to describe how these transformations influence and impact on the extent of adherence of PLWHA to their ART, to ultimately provide recommendations on how to improve adherence to ART.
 
Method / Issue:
Methods: In-depth follow-up interviews will be conducted, by means of household visits, with thirty two participants selected from within the Infectious Disease Clinic at Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town. Ethnographic observations and informal conversations will be carried out with family members, community members, health care providers and other interested parties. Focus group discussions will also be held with health care providers, patient support group members and counsellors. Responses will be analysed for content and recurrent themes.
 
Results / Comments:
Results: At present, focus group discussions with counsellors and informal interviews and an in-depth interview with a health care provider and a community activist indicate that issues of stigma and discrimination resulting in disclosure avoidance and current national policies and treatment programme implementation impact negatively on adherence to ART. However, more research is currently being undertaken to verify and/or add to these preliminary results. Further research will be provided in the late breaker abstract and conference presentation.
 
Discussion:
Conclusions: The social, community, cultural and economic factors that impact on ones access to and use of ART are highly variable and complex in nature and require much attention in order to bring about holistic and realistic programmes to enable ART users adhere to their treatment.
 
Go Back

  Disclaimer   |   T's & C's   |   Copyright Notice    www.AIDSImpact.com www.AIDSImpact.com