title: "I pray that they accept me without scolding:" experiences with disengagement and re-engagement in HIV care and treatment services in Tanzania.
abstract: HIV care and treatment programs in sub-Saharan Africa have been remarkably successful, but disengagement from care by people living with HIV (PLHIV) remains high. The goal of this study was to explore the experiences of PLHIV who disengaged from HIV care in Iringa, Tanzania. We conducted a series of three longitudinal, semi-structured interviews with 14 PLHIV who had disengaged from ART programs for a total of 37 interviews. Narrative analysis was used to identify key themes. Our findings indicate that an individual's decision to disengage from care often resulted from harsh and disrespectful treatment from providers following missed appointments. Once disengaged, participants reported a strong desire to re-engage in care but also reluctance to return due to fear of further mistreatment. Participants who successfully re-engaged in care during the course of this study leveraged social support networks to facilitate this process, but often felt guilt and shame for breaking clinic rules and believed themselves to be at fault for disengagement. Developing strategies to minimize disengagement and facilitate re-engagement through more flexible attendance policies, improved client-provider interactions, and outreach and support for disengaged clients could increase retention and re-engagement in HIV care and treatment programs.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Health, Behavior and Society, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health , Baltimore, Maryland.
authors.forename: Erica H
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Layer
authors.forename: Heena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Brahmbhatt
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Beckham
authors.forename: Jacob
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ntogwisangu
authors.forename: Ard
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mwampashi
authors.forename: Wendy W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.forename: Deanna L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Kerrigan
authors.forename: Caitlin E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Kennedy
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019380:Anti-HIV Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013636:Tanzania
chemical_list: D019380:Anti-HIV Agents