Psychosocial determinants of maintenance of, and adherence to, antiretroviral therapy among injection drug users living with HIV/AIDS

Date

2018-11-16

Authors

Kerr, Thomas Hudson

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Abstract

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically affected the course of HIV disease, producing significant reductions in both AIDS-related morbidity and mortality. However, the excitement generated by this new approach has been tempered by concerns about adherence to these complex therapies. Using a sample of 244 participants derived from the Vancouver Injection Drug Users Study, this study examined the impact of self-efficacy, social support, incarceration, and frequent illicit drug use on maintenance of and adherence to ART among injection drug users. Variables that were negatively associated with ART maintenance included negative outcome expectations and incarceration. Variables that were associated positively with ART maintenance included efficacy expectations and self-regulatory efficacy. Negative outcome expectations were also associated negatively with ART adherence, while efficacy expectations were associated positively with ART adherence.

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Keywords

Antiretroviral agents, HIV-positive persons, Drug use, British Columbia, AIDS (Disease), Patients

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