Attitudes Toward Long-Term Use of Antiretroviral Therapy Among HIV-Infected Pregnant Women in Moshi, Tanzania: A Longitudinal Study

• Published in: AIDS and behavior Vol. 23; no. 9; pp. 2610 - 2617
• Main Authors: Minja, Linda, Cichowitz, Cody, Knettel, Brandon A., Mahande, Michael J., Kisigo, Godfrey, Knippler, Elizabeth T., Ngocho, James S., Mmbaga, Blandina T., Watt, Melissa H.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.09.2019; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Anti-Retroviral Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral agents; Antiretroviral drugs; Antiretroviral therapy; Attitudes; Correlation analysis; Counseling; Disease transmission; Drug therapy; Drugs; Female; Health behavior; Health Behavior - ethnology; Health Psychology; HIV; HIV Infections - drug therapy; HIV Infections - ethnology; HIV Infections - psychology; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical - prevention & control; Infectious Diseases; Longitudinal Studies; Medical screening; Medication Adherence - ethnology; Medication Adherence - psychology; Medication Adherence - statistics & numerical data; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Mental depression; Original Paper; Patients; Postpartum; Postpartum Period - psychology; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - drug therapy; Pregnant Women - ethnology; Pregnant Women - psychology; Prescription drugs; Public Health; Tanzania - epidemiology; Tests; Therapy; Women; Womens health; Young Adult; Tanzania; HIV/AIDS; Adherence; Option B; Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT); Tanzania
• ISSN: 1090-7165; 1573-3254
• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-019-02622-5

Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) during pregnancy and the postpartum period is necessary to prevent vertical HIV transmission and to secure the long-term health of an HIV-infected woman. Health behavior theory suggests that patients’ attitudes towards medication can predict their medication-taking behaviour. This study sought to understand how women’s attitudes towards ART changes between the pregnancy and postpartum periods, and the factors associated with these attitudes. The study enrolled 200 pregnant women living with HIV. Structured surveys were administered during pregnancy and at three and 6 months postpartum. Overall, attitudes towards ART were stable over time. More positive attitudes towards ART were associated with HIV acceptance, lower levels of depression, and lower levels of shame. Counselling interventions are needed to help HIV-infected women accept their status and reduce shameful emotions. Depression screening and treatment should be integrated into PMTCT services. This study emphasizes the importance of early attention to attitudes towards ART, in order to establish a trajectory of sustained care engagement.