Influence of Social-cultural Factors on Adherence to HIV - AIDS Antiretroviral Treatment in Public Health Facilities - a Case of Pact Imara Programme in Makueni Sub County, Makueni County Kenya

Abstract

The study1examined the influence of1social-cultural1factors1on1adherence1to1HIV/AIDS1 antiretroviral treatment: a1case1of1PACT1IMARA1Program in1public health facilities in1 Makueni County, Kenya. The study1was1guided by1four1objectives which1sought1to1assess the1 extent each of the1four1independent1variables namely, service provider attributes, patient level of education, cultural values and social status influence adherence to HIV /AIDS antiretroviral treatment. Literature1 review1 was1 based1 on1 what1 other1 scholars1, academicians1, and1 practitioners1 in1 the1 field1 of1 the1 study1 has1 said1 based1 on1 the1 study1 variables1. The1 study1 was1 guided1 by1 social1 strain1 theory1. The1 researcher1 used1 a1 descriptive1 research1 design1. The1 target1 population1 for1 the1 study1 was1 people1 living1 with1 HIV1 in1 Makueni1 Sub1 County1 and1 accessing1 antiretroviral1 treatment1 in1 701 public1 health1 centers1 in1 Makueni1 Sub1 County1. The1 total1 target1 population1 was1 22,1331 respondents1. The1 stratified1 sampling1 technique1 was1 used1 in1 this1 study1. The1 sample1 population1 size1 (n) was1 3771 respondents1. The1 stud1 utilized1 a1 questionnaire1 and1 an1 interview1 guide1 to1 collect1 primary1 data1. Data was analyzed both quantitatively and qualitatively. Quantitatively, before being processed and analyzed with the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software (SPSS version 25), questionnaires were double-checked for accuracy. Frequencies, means, and standard deviation were used as descriptive statistics to indicate how the data was distributed. Qualitatively, the qualitative information was analyzed by content analysis, using common themes and concerns identified by various key stakeholders. According to the study, good adherence is linked to having a strong grasp of HIV/AIDS and being aware of the repercussions of non-adherence. The study concluded that the use of traditional medicine and adherence to antiretroviral therapy are strongly correlated with local beliefs, particularly those regarding the supernatural and mystical causes of illness. The study concluded that excellent adherence is linked to having a solid grasp of HIV/AIDS and being aware of the ramifications of non-adherence. According to the study, it is important to support the development of disadvantaged households' capabilities by putting in place income-generating plans. The county government should take care of issues that arise when requesting government funds in order to support local income production