'If I am playing football, I forget that I have this virus': the challenges and coping strategies of adolescents with perinatally acquired HIV in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adolescents who have acquired HIV perinatally (ALHIV) face unique challenges in taking lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART), but little is known about what factors affect their adherence over the course of their lifelong treatment journey.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative study with ALHIV who had periods of poor adherence to ART in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa using Participant-generated Visual Methodologies (PVM). Participants used photography to represent their perspectives and experiences.

Results

14 individuals participated in the research process. We developed a framework and identified four social domains which combined with the adolescent's own experiences and sense of self to either support or undermine adherence. Periods of non-adherence were rep

SUBMITTER: Loveday M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9587556 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature