The influence of antiretroviral treatment on willingness to test: a qualitative study in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
SOURCE: African Journal of AIDS Research
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2011
TITLE AUTHOR(S): Z.Phakathi, H.Van Rooyen, K.Fritz, L.Richter
KEYWORDS: ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART), HIV/AIDS, KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE, QUALITY ASSESSMENT, RURAL COMMUNITIES
DEPARTMENT: Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 6891
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/3726
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/3726
OUTPUT TYPE: Journal Article
PUBLICATION YEAR: 2011
TITLE AUTHOR(S): Z.Phakathi, H.Van Rooyen, K.Fritz, L.Richter
KEYWORDS: ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY (ART), HIV/AIDS, KWAZULU-NATAL PROVINCE, QUALITY ASSESSMENT, RURAL COMMUNITIES
DEPARTMENT: Public Health, Societies and Belonging (HSC)
Print: HSRC Library: shelf number 6891
HANDLE: 20.500.11910/3726
URI: http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11910/3726
If you would like to obtain a copy of this Research Output, please contact Hanlie Baudin at researchoutputs@hsrc.ac.za.
Abstract
Previous quantitative studies suggest a mutually reinforcing relationship between HIV counselling and testing (HCT) and antiretroviral treatment (ART). HCT is the entry into ART, and access to ART appears to increase HIV-testing uptake in settings with historically low uptake. Adopting a qualitative approach, this study examined the influence of ART on willingness to test for HIV, in a rural community in South Africa. Ninety-six in-depth interviews from a large community-based HIV-prevention trial were analysed. The data provide insight into the community members' views, perceptions and experiences regarding ART, and how they draw on these in making decisions about HIV testing. Several key factors that supported a positive relationship between ART and HIV testing were noted. These included the beliefs that ART brings hope and that it prolongs life; the powerful positive effect of witnessing the recovery of someone on treatment; and that ART encourages early HIV-testing behaviour. A few negative factors that could potentially weaken the effects of this positive relationship between ART and HCT uptake were the disclosure difficulties experienced by those enrolled in treatment, beliefs that ART does not cure HIV disease, and the travel distance to testing and treatment facilities from where people live and work. HIV/AIDS-service providers and programme planners should actively draw on these observations, to encourage increased HIV testing in communities and to ensure that the maximum number of people get the HIV treatment and care services that they require.-
Related Research Outputs:
- Design and methods of a longitudinal study investigating the impact of antiretroviral treatment on the partnerships and sexual behaviour of HIV-infected individuals in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- The impact of HIV/AIDS on land issues in Kwazulu-Natal province South Africa: case studies from Muden, Dondotha, Kwadumisa and Kwanyuswa
- Investment into eco-tourism projects: KwaZulu-Natal coastal belt: South Africa
- NASFAM funding proposal for the National AIDS Commission
- Trends and policy challenges in the rural economy: four provincial case studies
- Photo-voice as an analytical and activist tool in the fight against HIV and AIDS stigmatisation in a rural KwaZulu-Natal school
- Use of traditional complementary and alternative medicine for HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Traditional complementary and alternative medicine and antiretroviral treatment adherence among HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- What can a woman do with a camera?: turning the female gaze on poverty and HIV and AIDS in rural South Africa
- Working with community based mobilisers (CBMs) to promote community-based voluntary counseling and testing in rural KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Antiretroviral treatment adherence among HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Traditional complementary and alternative medicine and antiretroviral treatment adherence among HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Perceived stigma among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy: a prospective study in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Antiretrovirals and the use of traditional, complementary and alternative medicine by HIV patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a longitudinal study
- Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in low socioeconomic status community sample
- Sexual dissatisfaction and associated factors in a sample of patients on antiretroviral treatment in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Spirituality and religion in antiretroviral therapy (ART) in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: a longitudinal study
- Health related quality of life and antiretroviral treatment in patients over a period of 20 months in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Efficacy of a lay health worker led group antiretroviral medication adherence training among non-adherent HIV-positive patients in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: results from a randomized trial
- Health-related quality of life and antiretroviral therapy in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa