“I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry

Emmy Metta; William Yonathan; Melkizedeck Leshabari

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12

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“I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry

Emmy Metta, William Yonathan, Melkizedeck Leshabari

Published in International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 7, Issue 1)

Received: 1 March 2021 Accepted: 12 March 2021 Published: 22 March 2021

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Abstract

Background: Continuing use of ART treatments is reported to improve health and health outcomes of people living with HIV. However, adherence to ART prescriptions is generally a challenge and many people default from HIV care and treatment. This study assessed reasons for ART treatment default among adults living with HIV in Tunduru district Tanzania. Methods: We conducted a qualitative cross-sectional study between January and February 2018. Ten key informants who had defaulted from HIV care and treatment for five or more months were engaged in in-depth interviews on reasons behind defaulting. Thematic analysis using NVivo was conducted to identify emerging themes. Results: Reasons for defaulting from ART treatments which emerged include being tired of using the ART medications for a long time, not experiencing HIV related symptoms, fear of stigma and shame of being known to use ART, inadequate food, fear of side effects and use of local herbs as alternative. Other reasons include long distance to the health facilities and long waiting time for the services at the facility. Conclusion: Reasons for defaulting from HIV treatment and care among adults are multifaceted in nature requiring multifaceted efforts to address them if the gains intended from the use of ART are to be achieved and sustained.

Published in	International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 7, Issue 1)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12
Page(s)	8-14
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

ART, Default, Non-adherence, Tunduru, Tanzania

References

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APA Style

Emmy Metta, William Yonathan, Melkizedeck Leshabari. (2021). “I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 7(1), 8-14. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12

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ACS Style

Emmy Metta; William Yonathan; Melkizedeck Leshabari. “I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2021, 7(1), 8-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12

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AMA Style

Emmy Metta, William Yonathan, Melkizedeck Leshabari. “I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2021;7(1):8-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12,
  author = {Emmy Metta and William Yonathan and Melkizedeck Leshabari},
  title = {“I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry},
  journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
  volume = {7},
  number = {1},
  pages = {8-14},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20210701.12},
  abstract = {Background: Continuing use of ART treatments is reported to improve health and health outcomes of people living with HIV. However, adherence to ART prescriptions is generally a challenge and many people default from HIV care and treatment. This study assessed reasons for ART treatment default among adults living with HIV in Tunduru district Tanzania. Methods: We conducted a qualitative cross-sectional study between January and February 2018. Ten key informants who had defaulted from HIV care and treatment for five or more months were engaged in in-depth interviews on reasons behind defaulting. Thematic analysis using NVivo was conducted to identify emerging themes. Results: Reasons for defaulting from ART treatments which emerged include being tired of using the ART medications for a long time, not experiencing HIV related symptoms, fear of stigma and shame of being known to use ART, inadequate food, fear of side effects and use of local herbs as alternative. Other reasons include long distance to the health facilities and long waiting time for the services at the facility. Conclusion: Reasons for defaulting from HIV treatment and care among adults are multifaceted in nature requiring multifaceted efforts to address them if the gains intended from the use of ART are to be achieved and sustained.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - “I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry
AU  - Emmy Metta
AU  - William Yonathan
AU  - Melkizedeck Leshabari
Y1  - 2021/03/22
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12
T2  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JF  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JO  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
SP  - 8
EP  - 14
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5765
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12
AB  - Background: Continuing use of ART treatments is reported to improve health and health outcomes of people living with HIV. However, adherence to ART prescriptions is generally a challenge and many people default from HIV care and treatment. This study assessed reasons for ART treatment default among adults living with HIV in Tunduru district Tanzania. Methods: We conducted a qualitative cross-sectional study between January and February 2018. Ten key informants who had defaulted from HIV care and treatment for five or more months were engaged in in-depth interviews on reasons behind defaulting. Thematic analysis using NVivo was conducted to identify emerging themes. Results: Reasons for defaulting from ART treatments which emerged include being tired of using the ART medications for a long time, not experiencing HIV related symptoms, fear of stigma and shame of being known to use ART, inadequate food, fear of side effects and use of local herbs as alternative. Other reasons include long distance to the health facilities and long waiting time for the services at the facility. Conclusion: Reasons for defaulting from HIV treatment and care among adults are multifaceted in nature requiring multifaceted efforts to address them if the gains intended from the use of ART are to be achieved and sustained.
VL  - 7
IS  - 1
ER  -

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Author Information

Emmy Metta

School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
William Yonathan

School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Melkizedeck Leshabari

School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Science, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

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APA Style

Emmy Metta, William Yonathan, Melkizedeck Leshabari. (2021). “I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 7(1), 8-14. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12

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ACS Style

Emmy Metta; William Yonathan; Melkizedeck Leshabari. “I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2021, 7(1), 8-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12

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AMA Style

Emmy Metta, William Yonathan, Melkizedeck Leshabari. “I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2021;7(1):8-14. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12,
  author = {Emmy Metta and William Yonathan and Melkizedeck Leshabari},
  title = {“I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry},
  journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
  volume = {7},
  number = {1},
  pages = {8-14},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20210701.12},
  abstract = {Background: Continuing use of ART treatments is reported to improve health and health outcomes of people living with HIV. However, adherence to ART prescriptions is generally a challenge and many people default from HIV care and treatment. This study assessed reasons for ART treatment default among adults living with HIV in Tunduru district Tanzania. Methods: We conducted a qualitative cross-sectional study between January and February 2018. Ten key informants who had defaulted from HIV care and treatment for five or more months were engaged in in-depth interviews on reasons behind defaulting. Thematic analysis using NVivo was conducted to identify emerging themes. Results: Reasons for defaulting from ART treatments which emerged include being tired of using the ART medications for a long time, not experiencing HIV related symptoms, fear of stigma and shame of being known to use ART, inadequate food, fear of side effects and use of local herbs as alternative. Other reasons include long distance to the health facilities and long waiting time for the services at the facility. Conclusion: Reasons for defaulting from HIV treatment and care among adults are multifaceted in nature requiring multifaceted efforts to address them if the gains intended from the use of ART are to be achieved and sustained.},
 year = {2021}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - “I Feel Healthy Like Any Other Person” Reasons for Defaulting from ART Treatments Use Among Adults Living with HIV in Tunduru District: A Qualitative Inquiry
AU  - Emmy Metta
AU  - William Yonathan
AU  - Melkizedeck Leshabari
Y1  - 2021/03/22
PY  - 2021
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12
T2  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JF  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
JO  - International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science
SP  - 8
EP  - 14
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2575-5765
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20210701.12
AB  - Background: Continuing use of ART treatments is reported to improve health and health outcomes of people living with HIV. However, adherence to ART prescriptions is generally a challenge and many people default from HIV care and treatment. This study assessed reasons for ART treatment default among adults living with HIV in Tunduru district Tanzania. Methods: We conducted a qualitative cross-sectional study between January and February 2018. Ten key informants who had defaulted from HIV care and treatment for five or more months were engaged in in-depth interviews on reasons behind defaulting. Thematic analysis using NVivo was conducted to identify emerging themes. Results: Reasons for defaulting from ART treatments which emerged include being tired of using the ART medications for a long time, not experiencing HIV related symptoms, fear of stigma and shame of being known to use ART, inadequate food, fear of side effects and use of local herbs as alternative. Other reasons include long distance to the health facilities and long waiting time for the services at the facility. Conclusion: Reasons for defaulting from HIV treatment and care among adults are multifaceted in nature requiring multifaceted efforts to address them if the gains intended from the use of ART are to be achieved and sustained.
VL  - 7
IS  - 1
ER  -

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