RESEARCH PAPER
Paradoxical experiences of Ghanaian adolescents with HIV: physiological challenges
1
Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran
Submission date: 2020-08-10
Final revision date: 2020-09-05
Acceptance date: 2020-09-07
Publication date: 2021-04-12
HIV & AIDS Review 2021;20(1):59-64
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa continue to experience extreme health vulnerabilities. Children with HIV may experience major physiological problems. This study explored the experience of Ghanaian adolescents with HIV.
Material and methods:
Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. 12 adolescents living with HIV between the ages of 14 to 19 years were recruited. Since a physiological problem is not without some level of emotional consequence, the most appropriate method to explore these physiological and emotional dimensions of treatment and diseases are through a qualitative research method.
Results:
Two main themes emerged from this study: ‘Rhapsody of physiological burden’ and ‘Bittersweet experience of adjusting to antiretroviral therapy (ART)’. Participants reported experiencing challenges, including bouts of headaches, itchy skin rashes, general body weakness, vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, and many more. Adolescents reported varying accounts concerning ART. Some patients described positive image of treatment, while others reported traumatic ordeal regarding side effects of the treatment to the extent that some stopped taking their medications.
Conclusions:
Policies aimed at supporting adolescents living with HIV needs to consider their unique set of physiological challenges to help improve health outcomes of the youngsters. Nurses should inform patients about results as well as possible side effects of ART prior initiation of the regimen, and also explain adverse events, which should be reported to hospital.
Adolescents living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in sub-Saharan Africa continue to experience extreme health vulnerabilities. Children with HIV may experience major physiological problems. This study explored the experience of Ghanaian adolescents with HIV.
Material and methods:
Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. 12 adolescents living with HIV between the ages of 14 to 19 years were recruited. Since a physiological problem is not without some level of emotional consequence, the most appropriate method to explore these physiological and emotional dimensions of treatment and diseases are through a qualitative research method.
Results:
Two main themes emerged from this study: ‘Rhapsody of physiological burden’ and ‘Bittersweet experience of adjusting to antiretroviral therapy (ART)’. Participants reported experiencing challenges, including bouts of headaches, itchy skin rashes, general body weakness, vomiting, appetite loss, diarrhea, and many more. Adolescents reported varying accounts concerning ART. Some patients described positive image of treatment, while others reported traumatic ordeal regarding side effects of the treatment to the extent that some stopped taking their medications.
Conclusions:
Policies aimed at supporting adolescents living with HIV needs to consider their unique set of physiological challenges to help improve health outcomes of the youngsters. Nurses should inform patients about results as well as possible side effects of ART prior initiation of the regimen, and also explain adverse events, which should be reported to hospital.
REFERENCES (32)
1.
Mahy M, Marsh K, Sabin K, Wanyeki I, Daher J, Ghys PD. HIV estimates through 2018: data for decision-making. AIDS 2019; 33 (Suppl 3): S203-S211.
2.
UNICEF. For every child, end AIDS: seventh stocktaking report, 2016. UNICEF; 2016.
3.
Cluver L, Pantelic M, Orkin M, Toska E, Medley S, Sherr L. Sustainable Survival for adolescents living with HIV: do SDG‐aligned provisions reduce potential mortality risk? J Int AIDS Soc 2018; 21 Suppl 1: e25056.
4.
Naswa S, Marfatia Y. Adolescent HIV/AIDS: issues and challenges. Indian J Sex Transm Dis 2010; 31: 1-10.
5.
Vreeman RC, Scanlon ML, McHenry MS, Nyandiko WM. The physical and psychological effects of HIV infection and its treatment on perinatally HIV‐infected children. J Int AIDS Soc 2015; 18 (Suppl 6):.
6.
Ghana AIDS Commission. Summary of the 2016 HIV sentinel survey report, 2017; 2018.
7.
Balatif R. HIV infection: what should we know? Journal of Endocrinology, Tropical Medicine, and Infectiouse Disease (JETROMI) 2020; 2: 1-16.
8.
Posse M, Baltussen R. Barriers to access to antiretroviral treatment in Mozambique, as perceived by patients and health workers in urban and rural settings. AIDS Patient Care STDs 2009; 23: 867-875.
9.
Nagpal M, Tayal V, Kumar S, Gupta U. Adverse drug reactions to antiretroviral therapy in AIDS patients at a tertiary care hospital in India: a prospective observational study. Indian J Med Sci 2010; 64: 245-252.
10.
Willen EJ. Neurocognitive outcomes in pediatric HIV. Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev 2006; 12: 223-228.
11.
Gafni RI, Hazra R, Reynolds JC, et al. Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate and an optimized background regimen of antiretroviral agents as salvage therapy: impact on bone mineral density in HIV-infected children. Pediatrics 2006; 118: e711-e718.
12.
Shabalala FS, Vernooij E, Pell C, et al. Understanding reasons for discontinued antiretroviral treatment among clients in test and treat: a qualitative study in Swaziland. J Int AIDS Soc 2018; 21 Suppl 4:.
14.
Buonora S, Nogueira S, Pone MV, Aloé M, Oliveira RH, Hofer C. Growth parameters in HIV-vertically-infected adolescents on antiretroviral therapy in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Ann Trop Paediatr 2008; 28: 59-64.
15.
Enimil A, Nugent N, Amoah C, et al. Quality of life among Ghanaian adolescents living with perinatally acquired HIV: a mixed methods study. AIDS Care 2016; 28: 460-464.
16.
Ayres JRdCM, Segurado AAC, Galano E, et al. Adolescentes e jovens vivendo com HIV/aids: cuidado e promoção da saúde no cotidiano da equipe multiprofissional. Sao Paulo; 2004.
17.
Armstrong A, Nagata JM, Vicari M, et al. A global research agenda for adolescents living with HIV. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2018; 78 Suppl 1: S16-S21.
20.
Peltzer K, Phaswana-Mafuya N. The symptom experience of people living with HIV and AIDS in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. BMC Health Serv Res 2008; 8: 271.
21.
Lemonovich TL, Watkins RR, Morrison CS, et al. Differences in clinical manifestations of acute and early HIV-1 infection between HIV-1 subtypes in African women. J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care 2015; 14: 415-422.
22.
Mlisana K, Sobieszczyk M, Werner L, et al. Challenges of diagnosing acute HIV-1 subtype C infection in African women: performance of a clinical algorithm and the need for point-of-care nucleic-.
24.
Tang AM, Forrester J, Spiegelman D, Knox TA, Tchetgen E, Gorbach SL. Weight loss and survival in HIV-positive patients in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy. J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr 2002; 31: 230-236.
25.
Mangili A, Murman D, Zampini A, Wanke C, Mayer KH. Nutrition and HIV infection: review of weight loss and wasting in the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy from the nutrition for healthy living cohort. Clin Infect Dis 2006; 42: 836-842.
26.
Smith KJ, Skelton HG, DeRusso D, et al. Clinical and histopathologic features of hair loss in patients with HIV-1 infection. J Am Acad Dermatol 1996; 34: 63-68.
27.
Rosen S, Larson B, Rohr J, et al. Effect of antiretroviral therapy on patients’ economic well being: five-year follow-up. AIDS 2014; 28: 417-424.
28.
Palella FJ, Deloria-Knoll M, Chmiel JS, et al. Survival benefit of initiating antiretroviral therapy in HIV-infected persons in different CD4+ cell strata. Ann Intern Med 2003; 138: 620-626.
29.
April MD, Wood R, Berkowitz BK, et al. The survival benefits of antiretroviral therapy in South Africa. J Infect Dis 2014; 209: 491-499.
30.
Montessori V, Press N, Harris M, Akagi L, Montaner JS. Adverse effects of antiretroviral therapy for HIV infection. CMAJ 2004; 170: 229-238.
31.
Carr A, Cooper DA. Adverse effects of antiretroviral therapy. Lancet 2000; 356: 1423-1430.
32.
Chen WT, Shiu CS, Yang JP, Simoni JM. Antiretroviral therapy (ART) side effect impacted on quality of life, and depressive symptomatology: a mixed-method study. J AIDS Clin Res 2013; 4: 218.
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 1732-2707 |
| ISSN: | 1730-1270 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
