TY - JOUR
T1 - A Qualitative Assessment of Barriers to Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence Among Adolescents in Western Kenya
AU - Kunapareddy, Catherine June
AU - Nyandiko, Winstone
AU - Inui, Thomas
AU - Ayaya, Samuel
AU - Marrero, David G.
AU - Vreeman, Rachel
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2014, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
PY - 2014/10/2
Y1 - 2014/10/2
N2 - Antiretroviral therapy (ART) requires nearly perfect adherence to be effective. This study aims to identify key factors identified by HIV-infected adolescents on ART as contributing to medication adherence in western Kenya. Using a qualitative study design, three adolescent focus groups discussions were conducted at an urban and rural clinic site in western Kenya. The study population included HIV-infected adolescents receiving ART through the USAID-AMPATH HIV care system. A trained facilitator conducted groups in Kiswahili using a semistructured interview guide probing multiple aspects of experience of taking medicines. Transcribed focus group dialogs were analyzed using constant comparison, progressive coding, and triangulation. The adolescents described a context of negative societal beliefs about HIV, necessitating a lifestyle of secrecy and minimizing the information shared about HIV or ART. Assessing and addressing adolescents’ fears and behaviors regarding medication secrecy and disclosure may enable more accurate monitoring of adherence and development of intervention strategies.
AB - Antiretroviral therapy (ART) requires nearly perfect adherence to be effective. This study aims to identify key factors identified by HIV-infected adolescents on ART as contributing to medication adherence in western Kenya. Using a qualitative study design, three adolescent focus groups discussions were conducted at an urban and rural clinic site in western Kenya. The study population included HIV-infected adolescents receiving ART through the USAID-AMPATH HIV care system. A trained facilitator conducted groups in Kiswahili using a semistructured interview guide probing multiple aspects of experience of taking medicines. Transcribed focus group dialogs were analyzed using constant comparison, progressive coding, and triangulation. The adolescents described a context of negative societal beliefs about HIV, necessitating a lifestyle of secrecy and minimizing the information shared about HIV or ART. Assessing and addressing adolescents’ fears and behaviors regarding medication secrecy and disclosure may enable more accurate monitoring of adherence and development of intervention strategies.
KW - HIV
KW - Sub-Saharan Africa
KW - adherence disclosure
KW - adolescents
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84909987941&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1080/15381501.2012.754392
DO - 10.1080/15381501.2012.754392
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84909987941
SN - 1538-1501
VL - 13
SP - 383
EP - 401
JO - Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services
JF - Journal of HIV/AIDS and Social Services
IS - 4
ER -