FACTORS INFLUENCING ADHERENCE TO HIV/AIDS TREATMENT AND PREVENTION AMONG PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS IN DAR-ES-SALAAM, TANZANIA

摘要

There is a need to sustain African people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) in good health for as long as possible, while at the same time preventing further risks of HIV transmission to self and others. Living with a HIV diagnosis creates what I have called HIV status stress. Using a HIV Status Stress Scale and an Adherence to HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention Scale that were developed for this investigation, along with two existing measures--the Sources of Social Support Scale and the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale, this study sought to determine adherence to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention among 212 participants randomly selected from two non-profit organizations in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Study findings highlight the direct effect of HIV status stress on decreased adherence to treatment and prevention regimes and on increased sexual risk behaviors. Informal social support was found to buffer the impact of HIV status stress on sexual risk. These findings hold important implications for public health and social work practice.