Perceived Barriers to Accessing and Adhering to Antiretroviral Therapy by People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

There have been various studies on barriers to accessing and adhering to Anti Retroviral Therapy by People with HIV/AIDS. This paper presents empirical data using questionnaire and interview on barriers to accessing ART by PLWHAs.  The study was carried out in Akwa Ibom state Nigeria using a cross sectional survey design with questionnaire and in-depth interview. Five hundred and forty (540) respondents were drawn from twenty (20) support groups in the state. They were selected only on the basis of their willingness to participate in the study. Ten respondents who were not administered questionnaire to were interviewed. Findings suggest that side effects of the drugs appear to be a major barrier as 67.2 percent of the respondents attested to that. Also it was found that due to fear of stigmatization, some of the PLWHAs visit ART centres far from their place of residence  and so distance and waiting period before one is attended to by health personnel became a barrier for them but not for others. We suggest the need for more enlightenment of the public to reduce stigmatization. Also health personnel should educate the PLWHAs more on how to manage the side effects. There is also need to sustain the progress made so far in reducing some of the barriers to accessing ART and one way of sustaining is by educating and organising on the job training for health personnel periodically.

Keywords: Barriers, Access, ART, Side effects, PLWHAs, Nigeria.