Understanding why HIV-infected persons disengaged from pre-ART care in Freetown, Sierra Leone: a qualitative study*. Issue 4 (3rd April 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kelly, J. Daniel; Hickey, Matthew D.; Schlough, Gabriel W.; Conteh, Sulaiman; Sesay, Momodu; Rutherford, George W.; Giordano, Thomas P.; Weiser, Sheri D.
• Is Part Of: AIDS care. Volume 31:Issue 4(2019)
• Page Start: 494
• Page End: 497
• Publication Date: 2019-04-03
• Subjects: HIV/AIDS -- HIV care continuum -- retention -- public health -- barriers to care -- Sierra Leone; AIDS (Disease) -- Social aspects -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; AIDS (Disease) -- Patients -- Care -- Periodicals; Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome; 362.1969792
• DOI: 10.1080/09540121.2018.1515467
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-0121

Abstract

ABSTRACT: In countries that have not implemented universal antiretroviral treatment (ART), loss to follow-up (LTFU) during pre-ART care remains a problem. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 41 HIV-infected persons who were LTFU during pre-ART care from a prospective cohort of persons newly diagnosed with HIV infection in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in 2012–2013. Interviews determined whether the participant disengaged or transferred care and explored the reasons for being LTFU. Of the 41 participants, 34 (83%) disengaged from care. For persons who disengaged from care, socioeconomic barriers emerged as a dominant theme in both ART-eligible and -ineligible groups while psychosocial barriers emerged as a dominant theme in the ART-ineligible group. Structural barriers emerged as a dominant theme for participants who transferred care. Interventions designed to address socioeconomic and psychosocial barriers may help reduce disengagement from pre-ART care.