title: Barriers to antiretroviral treatment in ethiopia: a qualitative study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ethiopia has made meaningful headway in improving access to HIV care and treatment but client attrition remains a daunting challenge. The objective of this study was to describe the major reasons of patient attrition from treatment at hospital and health center levels in Oromia region of Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitatively designed study was based on semistructured interview with antiretroviral therapy (ART) service providers and focus group discussions with ART clients. The participants were recruited purposively to obtain robust and programmatically important information on in retention HIV care and treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The analysis identified four major themes: antiretroviral (ARV) medications as ''long-term life support,'' free ART as ''expensive,'' regular follow up as ''devotion to a life-long crisis management,'' and expansion of free ART as ''sharing the new hope,''
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding clearly illustrated that while financial constraints and some sociocultural factors impede adherence, disclosure, community support, and decentralization of ART to primary health care units enhance retention in care and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, University Hospital Malmo, Malmo, Sweden, Oromia Regional Health Bureau, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
authors.forename: Taye T
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Balcha
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jeppsson
authors.forename: Abera
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bekele
mesh_terms: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005002:Ethiopia; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D036301:Qualitative Research
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents