Assessing Social Preparedness for Antiretroviral Therapy in a Generalized AIDS Epidemic: A Diffusion of Innovations Approach

• Published in: AIDS and behavior Vol. 13; no. 1; pp. 76 - 84
• Main Authors: Mitchell, Shannon K., Kelly, Kevin J., Potgieter, François E., Moon, Martha W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Boston Springer US 01-02-2009; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - drug therapy; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - epidemiology; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome - psychology; Adolescent; Adult; Africa; AIDS; Anti-HIV Agents - therapeutic use; Antiretroviral agents; Decision making; Epidemics; Focus Groups; Health Care Services; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Psychology; Hierarchy, Social; HIV; Human immunodeficiency virus; Humans; Infectious Diseases; Information Dissemination; Innovations; Knowledge; Medications; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Paper; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Public Health; Social Support; South Africa - epidemiology; Stereotyping; Treatment; Young Adult; South Africa; Eastern Cape South Africa; United States > US; Virginia; AIDS; South Africa; Traditional medicine; Antiretroviral therapy; Diffusion of innovations
• ISSN: 1090-7165; 1573-3254
• DOI: 10.1007/s10461-007-9293-9

Researchers conducted focus groups in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa concerning AIDS and treatment options. Constituent groups included adults aged 25–45, HIV/AIDS caregivers, HIV-positive adults, nurses, rural elders, teenagers, and traditional healers. This pilot work aimed to gather early evidence on perceptions about the government’s rollout of antiretroviral treatment (ART), identify potential barriers to success, and inform a subsequent pilot survey. Diffusion of innovations theory was used to interpret the data and helped identify potential obstacles to the ART rollout. AIDS stigma and a weakened healthcare system were negatively impacting the program. There was a lack of accurate knowledge about HIV/AIDS and antiretroviral treatment, with wide disparities among groups. Many people were not convinced that antiretroviral treatment is superior to other treatments, and a few people were afraid it was poisonous. There was no evidence that people were aware of the long-term difficulties of adherence to the regimen.