Table 2.
Reported Challenges to Adherence
| All respondents (n=36) | Men (n=19) | Women (n=17) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Issues identified by respondents | # who mentioned | # who mentioned | # who mentioned |
| Stigma issues | |||
| Fear of disclosure of HIV status | 32 | 17 | 15 |
| Fear of work-related stigma | 18 | 9 | 9 |
| Fear of stigma toward family | 9 | 6 | 3 |
| Psychological issues | |||
| Anxiety or depression | 27 | 12 | 15 |
| Isolation, loneliness, feeling “not normal” | 12 | 7 | 5 |
| Thoughts of/attempts at suicide | 7 | 3 | 4 |
| Financial concerns | |||
| ART-related worries | 23 | 10 | 13 |
| General lack of money | 20 | 8 | 12 |
| Need for a job | 17 | 14 | 3 |
| Forgetfulness | |||
| Worries about forgetting | 22 | 11 | 11 |
| Being busy – it’s easy to forget | 14 | 6 | 8 |
| Regimen issues | |||
| Strict timing and work demands | 20 | 10 | 10 |
| General requirements – timing, liquids, carrying pills around | 17 | 9 | 8 |
| Pill taste, size | 8 | 3 | 5 |
| Number of pills/different medications | 5 | 2 | |
| Side effects | |||
| Worries about side effects | 17 | 5 | 12 |
| Has side effects now | 7 | 4 | 3 |
| Worries about looking bad from side effects | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Drug or alcohol abuse | |||
| Drinks/takes drugs or claims they affect adherence | 7 | 6 | 1 |