HIV Care and Treatment Beliefs Among Patients Initiating Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) in Oromia, Ethiopia

Overview

Journal AIDS Behav

Specialty Infectious Diseases

Date 2015 Sep 9

PMID 26346333

Citations 11

Authors

Olga Tymejczyk

Susie Hoffman

Sarah Gorrell Kulkarni

Tsigereda Gadisa

Maria Lahuerta

Robert H Remien

Batya Elul

Wafaa El-Sadr

Zenebe Melaku

Denis Nash

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

To better understand patient beliefs, which may influence adherence to HIV care and treatment, we examined three dimensions of beliefs among Ethiopian adults (n = 1177) initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART). Beliefs about benefits of ART/HIV clinical care were largely accurate, but few patients believed in the ability of ART to prevent sexual transmission and many thought Holy Water could cure HIV. Factors associated with lower odds of accurate beliefs included advanced HIV, lack of formal education, and Muslim religion (benefits of ART/clinical care); secondary or university education and more clinic visits (ART to prevent sexual transmission); and pregnancy and Orthodox Christian religion (Holy Water). Assessment of patient beliefs may help providers identify areas needing reinforcement. In this setting, counselors also need to stress the benefits of ART as prevention and that Holy Water should not be used to the exclusion of HIV care and ART.

Citing Articles

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