Community and health system factors associated with antiretroviral therapy initiation among men and women in Malawi: a mixed methods study exploring gender-specific barriers to care.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Although community and health system factors are known to be critical to timely antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation, little is known about how they affect men and women.

Methods

We examined community- and health system-level factors associated with ART initiation in Malawi and whether associations differ by gender; 312 ART initiates and 108 non-initiates completed a survey; a subset of 30 individuals completed an indepth interview. Quantitative data were analyzed using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions, with separate models by gender. Qualitative data were analyzed through constant comparison methods.

Results

Among women, no community-level characteristics were associated with ART initiation in multivariable models; among men, receiving s

SUBMITTER: Phiri K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8079311 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature