Experiences of stigma and HIV care engagement in the context of Treat All in Rwanda: a qualitative study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

'Treat All' policies recommending immediate antiretroviral therapy (ART) soon after HIV diagnosis for all people living with HIV (PLHIV) are now ubiquitous in sub-Saharan Africa. While early ART initiation and retention is effective at curtailing disease progression and transmission, evidence suggests that stigma may act as a barrier to engagement in care. This study sought to understand the relationships between HIV stigma and engagement in care for PLHIV in Rwanda in the context of Treat All.

Methods

Between September 2018 and March 2019, we conducted semi-structured, qualitative interviews with adult PLHIV receiving care at two health centers in Kigali, Rwanda. We used a grounded theory approach to data analysis to develop conceptual framework describing how st

SUBMITTER: Ingabire C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10507909 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature