ArticleGlobal health action2014
Understanding reasons for treatment interruption amongst patients on antiretroviral therapy--a qualitative study at the Lighthouse Clinic, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Article in Global health action, 2014. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 19 papers.
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Who cites it
19 citing papers in PubMed.
- Factors associated with opting care from closer location to residence among PLHIV at Andhra Pradesh, India between 2023 and 2024.BMC health services research · 2026Article
- How much does it cost to retain clients on antiretroviral treatment for one year in a large, public clinic? Routine financial costs of retention interventions at Lighthouse Trust in Lilongwe, Malawi.BMC research notes · 2025Article
- Article
- How much does it cost to retain antiretroviral therapy (ART) clients in care? Routine financial costs of retention interventions at Lighthouse Trust's Martin Preuss Centre (MPC) in Lilongwe, Malawi.Research square · 2023Article
- Opportunities and considerations for the design of decentralized delivery of antiretroviral therapy for female sex workers living with HIV in South Africa.BMC health services research · 2022Article
- How HIV Clients Find Their Way Back to the ART Clinic: A Qualitative Study of Disengagement and Re-engagement with HIV Care in Malawi.AIDS and behavior · 2022Article
- Missing appointments by patients on antiretroviral therapy: Professional nurses' perspective.Curationis · 2022Article
- Antiretroviral therapy (ART) coverage at public and private ART facilities in Myanmar.AIDS care · 2021Article
- Predictors of antiretroviral therapy interruptions and factors influencing return to care at the Nkolndongo Health District, Cameroon.African health sciences · 2021Article
- Article
- Loss to follow-up and opportunities for reengagement in HIV care in rural Mozambique: A prospective cohort study.Medicine · 2020Article
- Article
- Individual, household, and community level barriers to ART adherence among women in rural Eswatini.PloS one · 2020Article
- Determination of medication adherence and related factors among people living with HIV/AIDS in a Turkish university hospitalTurkish journal of medical sciences · 2019Article
- Multi-level Determinants of Clinic Attendance and Antiretroviral Treatment Adherence Among Fishermen Living with HIV/AIDS in Communities on Lake Victoria, Uganda.AIDS and behavior · 2019Article
- Tipping the balance towards long-term retention in the HIV care cascade: A mixed methods study in southern Mozambique.PloS one · 2019Article
- A qualitative approach to understand antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence for refugees living in Nakivale Refugee Settlement in Uganda.Conflict and health · 2018Article
- Predictors of loss to follow-up among patients on ART at a rural hospital in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.PloS one · 2017Article
- Article
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6 authors.
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No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIn recent years, scaling up of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in resource-limited settings moved impressively towards universal access. Along with these achievements, public health HIV programs are facing a number of challenges including the support of patients on lifelong therapy and the prevention of temporary/permanent loss of patients in care. Understanding reasons for treatment interruption (TI) can inform strategies for improving drug adherence and retention in care.
objectiveTo evaluate key characteristics of patients resuming ART after TI at the Lighthouse Clinic in Lilongwe, Malawi, and to identify their reasons for interrupting ART.
designThis study uses a mixed methods design to evaluate patients resuming ART after TI. We analysed an assessment form for patients with TI using pre-defined categories and a comments field to identify frequently stated reasons for TI. Additionally, we conducted 26 in-depth interviews to deepen our understanding of common reasons for TI. In-depth interviews also included the patients' knowledge about ART and presence of social support systems. Qualitative data analysis was based on a thematic framework approach.
resultsA total of 347 patients (58.2% female, average age 35.1±11.3 years) with TI were identified. Despite the presence of social support and sufficient knowledge of possible consequences of TI, all patients experienced situations that resulted in TI. Analysis of in-depth interviews led to new and distinct categories for TI. The most common reason for TI was travel (54.5%, n=80/147), which further differentiated into work- or family-related travel. Patients also stated transport costs and health-care-provider-related reasons, which included perceived/enacted discrimination by health care workers. Other drivers of TI were treatment fatigue/forgetfulness, the patients' health status, adverse drug effects, pregnancy/delivery, religious belief or perceived/enacted stigma.
conclusionsTo adequately address patients' needs on a lifelong therapy, adherence-counselling sessions require provision of problem-solving strategies for common barriers to continuous care.
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