False beliefs about ART effectiveness, side effects and the consequences of non-retention and non-adherence among ART patients in Livingstone, Zambia.
Beliefs about antiretroviral treatment (ART) are crucial for treatment success but not well documented in sub-Sahara African countries. We studied the frequency of false beliefs about ART in 389 ART patients in Livingstone, Zambia. Despite intensive pre-ART counseling, we find that more than half of the patients hold at least one false belief about ART effectiveness, side effects, or the consequences of ART non-retention or non-adherence. Commonly held false beliefs-e.g., pastors can cure HIV infection through prayer and ART can be stopped without harmful effects while taking immune-boosting herbs-are likely to decrease ART adherence and retention.
Technical Advisor on Rural ART Services, Ministry of Health, Lusaka, Zambia. i-nozaki@it.ncgm.go.jp
Ikuma
I
Nozaki
Mika
M
Kuriyama
Pauline
P
Manyepa
Matilda K
MK
Zyambo
Kazuhiro
K
Kakimoto
Till
T
Bärnighausen
D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D003469:Culture; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012067:Religion; D012153:Retention, Psychology; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult; D015024:Zambia / Q000453:epidemiology; D016903:Drug Monitoring
D019380:Anti-HIV Agents