Delayed Initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy Among HIV-discordant Couples in Kenya

Overview

Journal AIDS Care

Publisher Informa Healthcare

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2012 Aug 8

PMID 22866934

Citations 15

Authors

Talia R Kahn

Michelle Desmond

Deepa Rao

Grace E Marx

Brandon L Guthrie

Rose Bosire

Robert Y Choi

James N Kiarie

Carey Farquhar

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Timely initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) is particularly important for HIV-discordant couples because viral suppression greatly reduces the risk of transmission to the uninfected partner. To identify issues and concerns related to ART initiation among HIV-discordant couples, we recruited a subset of discordant couples participating in a longitudinal study in Nairobi to participate in in-depth interviews and focus group discussions about ART. Our results suggest that partners in HIV-discordant relationships discuss starting ART, yet most are not aware that ART can decrease the risk of HIV transmission. In addition, their concerns about ART initiation include side effects, sustaining an appropriate level of drug treatment, HIV/AIDS-related stigma, medical/biological issues, psychological barriers, misconceptions about the medications, the inconvenience of being on therapy, and lack of social support. Understanding and addressing these barriers to ART initiation among discordant couples is critical to advancing the HIV "treatment as prevention" agenda.

Citing Articles

Fertility Desire and Associations with Condomless Sex, Antiretroviral Adherence, and Transmission Potential in a Cohort of Kenyan Women Living with HIV in Sero-discordant Relationships: A Mixed Methods Study.

Eastment M, Kinuthia J, Tapia K, Wanje G, Wilson K, Kaggiah A AIDS Behav. 2023; 27(8):2803-2814.

PMID: 36759394 PMC: 10338402. DOI: 10.1007/s10461-023-04004-4.

In Vitro Susceptibility of HIV Isolates with High Growth Capability to Antiretroviral Drugs.

Hinay Jr A, Kanai K, Tsuneki-Tokunaga A, Komatsu M, Telan E, Kageyama S Int J Mol Sci. 2022; 23(23).

PMID: 36499705 PMC: 9737537. DOI: 10.3390/ijms232315380.

Time to Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation and Its Predictors Among Newly Diagnosed HIV-Positive People in Nekemte Town, Western Ethiopia: Claim of Universal Test and Treat.

Bayisa L, Abera T, Mulisa D, Mosisa G, Mosisa A, Tolosa T HIV AIDS (Auckl). 2021; 13:959-972.

PMID: 34675687 PMC: 8519411. DOI: 10.2147/HIV.S327967.

HIV diagnosis period influences ART initiation: findings from a prospective cohort study in China.

Yang T, Yang X, Li L, Xu H, Fan L, Li Q AIDS Res Ther. 2021; 18(1):59.

PMID: 34503542 PMC: 8428057. DOI: 10.1186/s12981-021-00379-3.

Intention to initiate antiretroviral therapy (ART) among people living with HIV in China under the scaling-up of ART: the role of healthcare workers' recommendations.

He Q, Du X, Xu H, Fan L, Maimaitijiang R, Wu Y BMC Health Serv Res. 2019; 19(1):314.

PMID: 31096967 PMC: 6524228. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-019-4143-9.

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