Hopes, joys and fears: Meaning and perceptions of viral load testing and low-level viraemia among people on antiretroviral therapy in Uganda: A qualitative study.

ABSTRACT: Uganda applies the World Health Organization threshold of 1,000 copies/ml to determine HIV viral non-suppression. While there is an emerging concern of low-level viraemia (≥50 to <1,000 copies/ml), there is limited understanding of how people on antiretroviral therapy perceive viral load testing and low-level viremia in resource-limited settings. This qualitative study used the health belief model to explore the meaning that people living with HIV attach to viral load testing and low-level viraemia in Uganda. We used stratified purposive sampling to select people on antiretroviral therapy from eight high volume health facilities from the Central, Eastern, Northern and Western regions of Uganda. We used an interview guide, based on the health belief model, to conduct 32 in-depth interviews,

SUBMITTER: Nanyeenya N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10171654 | biostudies-literature | 2023

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature