title: "I want to stand on my own legs": A qualitative study of antiretroviral therapy adherence among HIV-positive women in Egypt.
abstract: A review of the antiretroviral therapy (ART) literature revealed that not a single published study has examined the factors that influence patients' adherence to HIV medications in the Arab world. To mend this gap, this qualitative study collected data via face-to-face interviews with 27 HIV-positive Egyptian women who had been on ART for at least three months. Using a thematic analysis technique, five themes were identified: fear of stigma, financial constraints, characteristics of ART, social support, and reliance on faith. Notwithstanding the overwhelming number of inhibiting factors, most patients in this study were highly motivated to achieve perfect adherence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sociology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND, USA. abdallah.badahdah@und.nodak.edu
authors.forename: Abdallah M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Badahdah
authors.forename: Daphne E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Pedersen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004534:Egypt / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012067:Religion; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D044966:Anti-Retroviral Agents