The biopsychosocial factors influencing HIV/AIDS patient adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) : a social work study

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dc.contributor.advisor Carbonatto, C.L.
dc.contributor.postgraduate Spies, Margaretha en
dc.date.accessioned 2013-09-07T10:44:35Z
dc.date.available 2008-08-13 en
dc.date.available 2013-09-07T10:44:35Z
dc.date.created 2008-04-21 en
dc.date.issued 2007 en
dc.date.submitted 2008-08-11 en
dc.description Thesis (DPhil)--University of Pretoria, 2007. en
dc.description.abstract The study emanates from the need to identify the biopsychosocial factors that influence patients’ adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) within the South African context The specific goal of the study was to explore these in order to make recommendations to enhance service delivery. Applied research was conducted, with its primary task being to stimulate thought and action concerning the challenges faced by patients who are on ART. In order to gather comprehensive data, the researcher engaged in a combination of the qualitative and quantitative approaches. For the qualitative case study the researcher made use of semi-structured interviews, utilizing the non-probability sampling method, aiming to understand and interpret the meaning that the multidisciplinary team accorded to matters of antiretroviral treatment. For the quantitative part of the study the probability random sampling method was made use of for the quantitative descriptive survey. Questionnaires were employed to collect data from 201 patients already on antiretroviral medication. The conclusions, which were drawn from the research findings, identified challenges to adherence to ART: the study confirmed that since the advent of combination antiretroviral therapy (HAART), HIV/AIDS has been transformed into a manageable and chronic condition, and has undoubtedly extended and improved the quality of life for people living with HIV/AIDS. However, it also confirmed that ART, is a complex intervention, which is accompanied by severe biopsychosocial implications, requiring near-perfect adherence in order to prevent the development of resistance. The impact that the various psychosocial needs of millions of HIV/AIDS people living on ART will have on current social structures and services, will tax the available professional social services, particularly the social work profession. The social correlation of HIV/AIDS and poverty is endorsed by the findings, confirming that the high level of unemployment, coupled with families who are headed by women and who receive little support, lead to almost total dependency on social security. The findings further indicate a specific relationship between socio-economic circumstances and the ability to adhere to ART. Empowering HIV/AIDS patients, to be able to adhere to ART, is therefore indicated, as is the further need for a regulator of HIV/AIDS support services, in order to protect and promote high standards of service delivery, especially counselling. en
dc.description.availability unrestricted en
dc.description.degree DPhil
dc.description.department Social Work and Criminology en
dc.identifier.citation Spies, M 2007, The biopsychosocial factors influencing HIV/AIDS patient adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) : a social work study, DPhil Thesis, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, viewed yymmdd <http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27140> en
dc.identifier.other D472/gm en
dc.identifier.upetdurl http://upetd.up.ac.za/thesis/available/etd-08112008-165506/ en
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/2263/27140
dc.language.iso en
dc.publisher University of Pretoria en_ZA
dc.rights ©2007 University of Pretoria en
dc.subject Antiretroviral therapy (ART) en
dc.subject Assessing en
dc.subject Biopsychosocial en
dc.subject Adherence en
dc.subject Concordance en
dc.subject Compliance en
dc.subject Counsellors en
dc.subject Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) en
dc.subject Psychosocial en
dc.subject Resistance en
dc.subject Social work en
dc.subject Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) en
dc.subject Counselling en
dc.subject UCTD en_US
dc.title The biopsychosocial factors influencing HIV/AIDS patient adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) : a social work study en
dc.type Thesis en


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