1. 'I found that I was well and strong': Women’s motivations for remaining on ART under Option B+ in Malawi
- Author
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Phiri, Nozgechi, Haas, Andreas D., Msukwa, Malango T., Tenthani, Lyson, Keiser, Olivia, and Tal, Kali
- Subjects
RNA viruses ,Rural Population ,Malawi ,Urban Population ,Maternal Health ,Health Care Providers ,lcsh:Medicine ,Nurses ,HIV Infections ,Pathology and Laboratory Medicine ,Pediatrics ,Geographical Locations ,Immunodeficiency Viruses ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,Public and Occupational Health ,Medical Personnel ,lcsh:Science ,Child ,Child Health ,HIV diagnosis and management ,Vaccination and Immunization ,Professions ,Counselors ,Medical Microbiology ,Viral Pathogens ,Viruses ,Female ,Pathogens ,Research Article ,Adult ,Adolescent ,Anti-HIV Agents ,Immunology ,Antiretroviral Therapy ,610 Medicine & health ,Microbiology ,Young Adult ,Antiviral Therapy ,Adverse Reactions ,360 Social problems & social services ,Antenatal Care ,Retroviruses ,Humans ,Microbial Pathogens ,ddc:613 ,Pharmacology ,Motivation ,lcsh:R ,Lentivirus ,Organisms ,Biology and Life Sciences ,HIV ,Diagnostic medicine ,Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ,Health Care ,People and Places ,Africa ,Women's Health ,lcsh:Q ,Population Groupings ,Preventive Medicine - Abstract
Most Malawian women who start ART under Option B+ are still in care three years later, a higher than average adherence rate for life-threatening chronic disease treatments, worldwide (50%). We asked 75 Malawian on ART their motivations for remaining in treatment, and what barriers they overcame. Focus groups and interviews included 75 women on ART for 6+ months, at 12 health facilities. Four main motivations for continuing ART emerged: 1) evidence that ART improved their own and their children's health; 2) strong desire to be healthy and keep their children healthy; 3) treatment was socially supported; 4) HIV/ART counselling effectively showed benefits of ART and told women what to expect. Women surmounted the following barriers: 1) stigma; 2) health care system; 3) economic; 4) side effects. Women stayed on ART because they believed it works. Future interventions should focus on emphasizing ART's effectiveness, along with other services they provide.
- Published
- 2018