Barriers and Facilitators to Retention in Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Ghanaian Referral Hospital

Amida Awudu Rahman

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11

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Barriers and Facilitators to Retention in Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Ghanaian Referral Hospital

Amida Awudu Rahman

Published in International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 9, Issue 2)

Received: 6 July 2023 Accepted: 22 July 2023 Published: 31 July 2023

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Abstract

The rise in new HIV infection cases has prompted widespread worry. High trends of patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy in hospitals have been caused by the increase, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, where more than 300,000 people are currently receiving ART. HIV incidence is rising in Ghana, particularly among young people, despite the implementation of goals, policies, and initiatives aimed at improving patient adherence and length of stay in care. This issue has been partially attributed to the lack of scholarly works on the subject, which has hampered efforts to meet the 95-95-95 targets. This study examined the enablers and impediments to adherence and retention to ART among HIV patients at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital in order to contribute to policy and academic literature. This study was significant because it offers advice for adherence and retention policies to assist governments and international organizations like UNAIDS. To support the study, the Anderson Model of Healthcare Utilization was used. Case study using qualitative methodologies was used. The findings demonstrate that non-disclosure of status, socio-cultural ties, the perception of improved health, access to free medication, cultural and religious preferences, and support from the healthcare facility all help patients adhere to ART and stay in care. Additionally, the study discovered that Model of Hopes have a vital role as counselors, educators, and hope models who visit patients at home, engage them in conversation, and motivate them to adhere. Because of this, client adherence to ART has improved. According to the study, older women who are not employed maintain their treatment regimens better than both working and unemployed males. The study also found that there has been a gradual shift in patients' priorities, with less reliance on spiritual guidance and religious supplications at the expense of ART. Issues with money, the economy, stigma, and religion are obstacles to HIV patients' adherence and retention.

Published in	International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science (Volume 9, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11
Page(s)	39-45
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), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

HIV, Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), Retention in Care and Adherence to ART

References

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APA Style

Amida Awudu Rahman. (2023). Barriers and Facilitators to Retention in Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Ghanaian Referral Hospital. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 9(2), 39-45. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11

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Amida Awudu Rahman. Barriers and Facilitators to Retention in Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Ghanaian Referral Hospital. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2023, 9(2), 39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11

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AMA Style

Amida Awudu Rahman. Barriers and Facilitators to Retention in Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Ghanaian Referral Hospital. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2023;9(2):39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11,
  author = {Amida Awudu Rahman},
  title = {Barriers and Facilitators to Retention in Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Ghanaian Referral Hospital},
  journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {39-45},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20230902.11},
  abstract = {The rise in new HIV infection cases has prompted widespread worry. High trends of patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy in hospitals have been caused by the increase, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, where more than 300,000 people are currently receiving ART. HIV incidence is rising in Ghana, particularly among young people, despite the implementation of goals, policies, and initiatives aimed at improving patient adherence and length of stay in care. This issue has been partially attributed to the lack of scholarly works on the subject, which has hampered efforts to meet the 95-95-95 targets. This study examined the enablers and impediments to adherence and retention to ART among HIV patients at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital in order to contribute to policy and academic literature. This study was significant because it offers advice for adherence and retention policies to assist governments and international organizations like UNAIDS. To support the study, the Anderson Model of Healthcare Utilization was used. Case study using qualitative methodologies was used. The findings demonstrate that non-disclosure of status, socio-cultural ties, the perception of improved health, access to free medication, cultural and religious preferences, and support from the healthcare facility all help patients adhere to ART and stay in care. Additionally, the study discovered that Model of Hopes have a vital role as counselors, educators, and hope models who visit patients at home, engage them in conversation, and motivate them to adhere. Because of this, client adherence to ART has improved. According to the study, older women who are not employed maintain their treatment regimens better than both working and unemployed males. The study also found that there has been a gradual shift in patients' priorities, with less reliance on spiritual guidance and religious supplications at the expense of ART. Issues with money, the economy, stigma, and religion are obstacles to HIV patients' adherence and retention.},
 year = {2023}
}

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TY - JOUR
T1 - Barriers and Facilitators to Retention in Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Ghanaian Referral Hospital
AU - Amida Awudu Rahman
Y1 - 2023/07/31
PY - 2023
N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11
DO - 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11
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 - 39
EP - 45
PB - Science Publishing Group
SN - 2575-5765
UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11
AB - The rise in new HIV infection cases has prompted widespread worry. High trends of patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy in hospitals have been caused by the increase, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, where more than 300,000 people are currently receiving ART. HIV incidence is rising in Ghana, particularly among young people, despite the implementation of goals, policies, and initiatives aimed at improving patient adherence and length of stay in care. This issue has been partially attributed to the lack of scholarly works on the subject, which has hampered efforts to meet the 95-95-95 targets. This study examined the enablers and impediments to adherence and retention to ART among HIV patients at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital in order to contribute to policy and academic literature. This study was significant because it offers advice for adherence and retention policies to assist governments and international organizations like UNAIDS. To support the study, the Anderson Model of Healthcare Utilization was used. Case study using qualitative methodologies was used. The findings demonstrate that non-disclosure of status, socio-cultural ties, the perception of improved health, access to free medication, cultural and religious preferences, and support from the healthcare facility all help patients adhere to ART and stay in care. Additionally, the study discovered that Model of Hopes have a vital role as counselors, educators, and hope models who visit patients at home, engage them in conversation, and motivate them to adhere. Because of this, client adherence to ART has improved. According to the study, older women who are not employed maintain their treatment regimens better than both working and unemployed males. The study also found that there has been a gradual shift in patients' priorities, with less reliance on spiritual guidance and religious supplications at the expense of ART. Issues with money, the economy, stigma, and religion are obstacles to HIV patients' adherence and retention.
VL - 9
IS - 2
ER -

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Amida Awudu Rahman

Department of Public Health, Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH), Accra, Ghana

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APA Style

Amida Awudu Rahman. (2023). Barriers and Facilitators to Retention in Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Ghanaian Referral Hospital. International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science, 9(2), 39-45. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11

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ACS Style

Amida Awudu Rahman. Barriers and Facilitators to Retention in Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Ghanaian Referral Hospital. Int. J. HIV/AIDS Prev. Educ. Behav. Sci. 2023, 9(2), 39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11

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AMA Style

Amida Awudu Rahman. Barriers and Facilitators to Retention in Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Ghanaian Referral Hospital. Int J HIV/AIDS Prev Educ Behav Sci. 2023;9(2):39-45. doi: 10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11,
  author = {Amida Awudu Rahman},
  title = {Barriers and Facilitators to Retention in Care and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in a Ghanaian Referral Hospital},
  journal = {International Journal of HIV/AIDS Prevention, Education and Behavioural Science},
  volume = {9},
  number = {2},
  pages = {39-45},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijhpebs.20230902.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijhpebs.20230902.11},
  abstract = {The rise in new HIV infection cases has prompted widespread worry. High trends of patients receiving anti-retroviral therapy in hospitals have been caused by the increase, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa, including Ghana, where more than 300,000 people are currently receiving ART. HIV incidence is rising in Ghana, particularly among young people, despite the implementation of goals, policies, and initiatives aimed at improving patient adherence and length of stay in care. This issue has been partially attributed to the lack of scholarly works on the subject, which has hampered efforts to meet the 95-95-95 targets. This study examined the enablers and impediments to adherence and retention to ART among HIV patients at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital in order to contribute to policy and academic literature. This study was significant because it offers advice for adherence and retention policies to assist governments and international organizations like UNAIDS. To support the study, the Anderson Model of Healthcare Utilization was used. Case study using qualitative methodologies was used. The findings demonstrate that non-disclosure of status, socio-cultural ties, the perception of improved health, access to free medication, cultural and religious preferences, and support from the healthcare facility all help patients adhere to ART and stay in care. Additionally, the study discovered that Model of Hopes have a vital role as counselors, educators, and hope models who visit patients at home, engage them in conversation, and motivate them to adhere. Because of this, client adherence to ART has improved. According to the study, older women who are not employed maintain their treatment regimens better than both working and unemployed males. The study also found that there has been a gradual shift in patients' priorities, with less reliance on spiritual guidance and religious supplications at the expense of ART. Issues with money, the economy, stigma, and religion are obstacles to HIV patients' adherence and retention.},
 year = {2023}
}

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