'I fear my partner will abandon me': the intersection of late initiation of antenatal care in pregnancy and poor ART adherence among women living with HIV in South Africa and Uganda.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Many women in sub-Saharan Africa initiate antenatal care (ANC) late in pregnancy, undermining optimal prevention of mother-to-child-transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Questions remain about whether and how late initiation of ANC in pregnancy is related to adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in the era of national dolutegravir roll-out.

Methods

This study employed a qualitative design involving individual interviews and focus group discussions conducted between August 2018 and March 2019. We interviewed 37 pregnant and lactating women living with HIV selected purposively for early or late presentation to ANC from poor urban communities in South Africa and Uganda. Additionally, we carried out seven focused group discussions involving 67 participants in both countrie

SUBMITTER: Alhassan Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9284724 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature