Beyond clinical trials: Cross-sectional associations of combination antiretroviral therapy with reports of multiple symptoms and non-adherence among adolescents in South Africa

1,175 HIV-positive ART-experienced adolescents attending 53 health facilities in the Eastern Cape Province were interviewed

Abstract

Studies investigating symptoms associated with combination antiretroviral therapy (cART) use among adolescents in resource-limited settings are rare beyond clinical trials. Identifying adolescents at risk of non-adherence is imperative for HIV/AIDS programming and controlling the epidemic in this key population.

This article examines which combination antiretroviral therapy regimens were associated with reports of multiple symptoms and past-week non-adherence in a large community-traced sample of HIV-positive adolescents in South Africa.

A total of 1,175 HIV-positive ART-experienced adolescents aged 10 - 19 years attending 53 health facilities in the Eastern Cape Province, SA, were interviewed in 2014 - 2015.

This article is part of the Technical Assistance for the Southern Africa Regional Programme on HIV prevention evidence programme.

Citation

H P M Natukunda, L D Cluver, E Toska, V Musiime, A R Yakubovich. Beyond clinical trials: Cross-sectional associations of combination antiretroviral therapy with reports of multiple symptoms and non-adherence among adolescents in South Africa. (2017) South African Medical Journal; 107(11): 965-975. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i11.12405

Beyond clinical trials: Cross-sectional associations of combination antiretroviral therapy with reports of multiple symptoms and non-adherence among adolescents in South Africa

Published 31 October 2017