(Q31372)
Statements
Even though quantitative studies have described barriers to anti-retroviral therapy (ART), a more exploratory approach will provide in-depth information on these issues, and potential suggestions to address these issues at individual as well as structural level. (English)
BACKGROUND (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
We designed this qualitative study to examine the barriers and facilitators for antiretroviral therapy adherence in key population (KP) in Mumbai, India. (English)
BACKGROUND (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
We also wanted to understand the strategies adopted by these groups and get suggestions to improve adherence to ART. (English)
BACKGROUND (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
This is a qualitative analysis of seven focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted with four KP subgroups in Mumbai. (English)
METHODS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
We conducted two FGDs each with female sex workers (FSW), men who have sex with men (MSM), male-to-female transgendered people/Hijras (TGH) each, and one FGD with people who inject drugs (IDU). (English)
METHODS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
We transcribed the audio-recorded electronic records of these FGDs. (English)
METHODS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
We also added the notes of the observers on the group dynamics to the transcribed data. (English)
METHODS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
We used the Framework Approach to analyse these data. (English)
METHODS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
Some experiences-such as side effects to ART medicines-were common across groups. (English)
RESULTS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
However, incarceration as a reason for stopping ART was reported by FSWs but not by other KPs. (English)
RESULTS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
Friends and family (including Guru) are important support systems for HIV infected individuals and adherence to ART. (English)
RESULTS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
Stigma and discrimination by community members and general community prevent regular access of ART centres and other health care facilities. (English)
RESULTS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
Additional factors which led to missed doses were mental health issues, alcohol use, and misplacing the ART tablets during police raids or during robbery attempts at the cruising sites. (English)
RESULTS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
Since a common source of discrimination among peers and the community was the presence of 'Green book' (or their treatment book); the key population wanted the AIDS program to change it to digital cards so that labelling one as 'HIV positive' for being seen with the book can be avoided. (English)
RESULTS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
The qualitative study helped us explore the barriers to ART among key population and the community provided specific suggestions to address them. (English)
CONCLUSIONS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
In addition to Key Population centric enhanced adherence counselling, some administrative guidelines and procedures may need to be altered to improve adherence to ART in these populations. (English)
CONCLUSIONS (English)
Copyright: © 2024 Acharya et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. (English)
2024
Shrikala (English)
Acharya (English)
S
Mugundu Ramien (English)
Parthasarathy (English)
MR
Vijaykumar (English)
Karanjkar (English)
V
Sachendra (English)
Katkar (English)
S
Maninder Singh (English)
Setia (English)
MS
The authors have declared that no competing interests exist. (English)