Patient-related factors
In this overarching theme, participants reported factors related to
their own self-motivation and self-efficacy that ultimately describe
their compliance to ART. These factors included the following three
sub-themes: psychological reactions, family and friends, and
routines & reminders.
Psychological reactions : Participants reported a wide range of
emotions that positively or negatively affected their compliance to ART.
Stigmatization was frequently mentioned by participants as a factor that
negatively affected their compliance as they avoid taking their
medications in front of others. The fear of being judged by others led
some participants to hide their medications and only take their
medication when they were alone.
In one extreme case, participant reported that HIV patients can fear for
their own lives if they were ever caught taking ART. However, fear was
not always an emotion that negatively influences compliance. Some
participants reported that their fear of transmitting the disease to
others was a motivator for a better compliance.
Participants also reported positive emotions that contributed to their
ART compliance. Self-confidence was among these emotions. Some
participants reported that their self-confidence positively influenced
their coexistence with HIV infection, and the willingness to be strong
which ultimately increased their adherence to ART. Participants’
self-consciousness of their well-being also motivated them to regularly
take their medications. One participant expressed his happiness
for being HIV positive because he became more interested in taking care
of himself and his own health.
Family and friends: Getting support from family or friends
motivated participants to regularly take their medications. Families’
support was not limited to reminding participant to take their
medications, it also influenced participants’ compliance to follow up
visits to their physicians and lab tests. Children were another source
of motivation for participants who have children. Participants with
children reported they are always thinking about their children and
their constantly remind themselves that they have to live longer to be
there for their children. Two participants were concerned about
transmitting the infection to their children if they did not adhere to
therapy.
Despite that some participants did not inform their families about their
infection, some chose to share it with their friends. Friends support
appeared to influence participants’ attitudes toward their infection and
ultimately their compliance to therapy.
Routines & reminders : A few participants reported that they rely
on a daily routine to remind themselves to take their medications.
Another participant reported. Other participants chose to put their
medication in a place where it is always checked or use a phone alarm.