Association between social support and adherence to anti-retroviral treatment in people living with HIV

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the association between social support, adherence to HIV anti-retroviral therapy, and clinical and sociodemographic factors. Method: A cross-sectional study conducted from July 2016 to August 2018 in a specialized outpatient clinic in southern Brazil. Individual interviews were conducted for the application of the following instruments: Questionnaire for the Evaluation of Adherence to Anti-retroviral Treatment (CEAT-HIV) and Social Support Scale for People Living with HIV/AIDS. The Spearman bivariate correlation test was used for analysis purposes. Results: Among the 168 participants, the mean social support score was 3.53 points (SD = 0.66), and 64.9% (n = 109) of the respondents had insufficient adherence. There was a significant association (p < 0.05) between emotional social support and the following adherence domains: antecedents of non-adherence behaviors and doctor-patient communication. Conclusions: Social support is associated with antecedents of non-adherence behaviors and doctor-patient communication.

Social Networks and Barriers to ART Adherence Among Young Adults (18–24 years) Living with HIV at Selected Primary Health Facilities of South-Western Uganda: A Qualitative Study

“…This finding agrees with the literature from Ethiopia, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Mozambique, about adults and youth with HIV where again family and friends provided among others, food, money, encouragement and love, and reminders that helped them overcome multiple barriers to ART adherence. 27,67,71,72,75 Consistent with findings from the USA and South Africa among adult and older patients (50+) with HIV [47,68], this study also found that bonding networks, particularly family members, were also key in protecting some of YALWH against stigma and also helped them cope with HIV.…”

“…Our findings are similar to those of other studies conducted in Brazil, Zambia, and Kenya among adults (>18 years) with HIV, where again friends and family and not neighbors were the dominant forms of social networks. 27,71,73,75 However, in the USA, social networks of older adults with HIV (50+yrs) were mostly composed of smaller (fragile) networks of older friends (often living with HIV), whom they relied on than family members for support. [43][44][45][46] Previous literature on HIV indicates that women were more likely to care for PLWH than men.…”

“…Social support to PLWH was also found to improve mental health and psychological wellbeing, quality of life, immune function, motivation, hope, and adoption of positive coping strategies. [24][25][26][27][28][29] Social support may also affect ART Adherence behavior, through meeting instrumental and informational needs of PLWH, improving motivation and hope, and influencing mood. 30 Support from social networks facilitates resilience to ART and is partly responsible for the high and sustained ART adherence rates in Africa.…”

Associação entre expectativa de autoeficácia e adesão ao tratamento antirretroviral em adultos com HIV

“…Estudo evidenciou que há correlação positiva entre suporte emocional e situações que mostram falta de adesão antecedente, e que a adesão e o suporte social se correlacionam positivamente com a comunicação entre o médico e o paciente (Oliveira et al, 2020). Isso indica que, apesar de o tratamento atual ser de primeira linha, a consciência construída culturalmente sobre a infecção prejudica a EAE e a confiança em si mesmo para executar atividades benéficas em relação ao tratamento.…”

Structure of social networks of people living with HIV and AIDS

“…Studies have revealed spouses or partners, family members, in or out of the family environment, and friends as the main sources of social support for people living with HIV and AIDS (10)(11)(12) . However, despite the scarcer offer of support, colleagues, neighbors, bosses at work, and the health team are also referred to as sources of support (10)(11)13) .…”