The relationship between cultural factors and initiation of antiretroviral therapy among HIV-positive people aged 18 to 49 years at Chitungwiza central hospital O/I clinic

Abstract

People living with HIV who are eligible for Anti Retro viral therapy at Chitungwiza Central hospital OI clinic appear to be delaying initiating ART. Late initiation of HIV positive people on ART poses a major public health challenge. Timely initiation of HIV positive people on Anti retro Viral Therapy (ART) has shown to improve clinical outcomes such as improving the quality of life, prolonging life, reduction of mortality and morbidity rates, prevention of development of opportunistic infection and transmission of HIV infections. It is possible that cultural factors are playing a major role in influencing the initiation of ART among HIV positive people who are eligible for ART. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between cultural factors and initiation of ART among HIV positive people aged 18 years to 49 years. The health belief model was used to guide the study and a descriptive qualitative correlational study was used as the research design. 80 participants were recruited for the study and 20 being males and 60 being female. Non-probability convenience sampling was used to select the participants. A structured interviewers schedule was used to collect the data. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics such as averages, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Inferential statistic using Pearson’s correlation coefficient was used to examine the relationship between cultural factors and initiation of ART. Analysis of the results on cultural factors and initiation of ART showed that there is no significant correlation (r=-219) between the cultural factors and ART initiation. This means that as cultural factors are addressed or reduced there is an increase in the rate at which ART is initiated. This therefore implies that the cultural factors that facilitate initiation of ART should be addressed and those that hinders should be removed so as to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV and AIDs. It also calls for the determination and addressing other issues that hinder early initiation of ART. This research seeks to establish the relationship between cultural factors and initiation of anti-retro viral therapy among HIV positive people attending OI clinic at Chitungwiza Central Hospital. The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) pandemic continues to be one of the most serious emergencies faced by most of the developing world. Late initiation of HIV positive people on Anti-retro viral therapy (ART) poses a major public health challenge and timely initiation of HIV positive people on ART has shown to improve clinical outcomes such as improving the quality of life, prolonging life, reduction of mortality and morbidity rate, prevents the development of opportunistic infections and reduces transmission of the HIV infection. Cultural factors play a major role in influencing the initiation of ART among HIV positive people.