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Understanding Guyanese Women’s Experiences of ART Adherence

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Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among Perinatal Women in Guyana

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Abstract

Objective

To understand the ART experiences of women living in Guyana.

Methods

33 key informants (HIV-positive women, healthcare providers) were interviewed at five clinics using a semi-structured guide. The Framework method was used to analyse the data.

Results

Adherence during pregnancy and postpartum was not straightforward as missed doses were commonly reported during both periods. However, pregnancy was reported as a time of better adherence by both the women and their healthcare providers, as the desire for a healthy baby, or being around for other children were strong motivating factors. ART side effects and food insecurity emerged as the two main reasons for non-adherence. Non-disclosure was not a barrier to adherence as women found creative ways to ensure medication was taken.

Conclusion

There appears to be a pattern of sporadic non-adherence among pregnant and postpartum women in this study which needs to be addressed. Food insecurity which can be a barrier to health advice and the potential to cause adverse maternal and child health outcomes should be tackled within the wider umbrella of poverty alleviation.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    A Medex is a cadre of health worker comparable to that of a physician assistant with the ability to prescribe certain types of medication.

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    Debbie Vitalis

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Vitalis, D. (2021). Understanding Guyanese Women’s Experiences of ART Adherence. In: Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among Perinatal Women in Guyana. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-3974-9_3

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