A high degree of adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in patients
infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is necessary for long
term treatment effects. This study explores the role of timing of ART
intake, the information patients received from health workers, local
adherence patterns, barriers to and facilitators of ART among 28
HIV-positive adults at the Senkatana HIV Clinic in Maseru, Lesotho.
This qualitative, semi-structured interview study was carried out
during February and March of 2011 and responses were analyzed inspired
by the Grounded Theory method. Results were then compared and discussed
between the authors and the main themes that emerged were categorized.
The majority of the respondents reported having missed one or more
doses of medicine in the past and it was a widespread belief among
patients that they were required to skip the dose of ART if they were
\u201clate\u201d. The main barriers to adherence were interruptions
of daily routines or leaving the house without sufficient medicine. The
use of mobile phone alarms, phone clocks and support from family and
friends were major facilitators of adherence. None of the patients
reported to have been counseled on family support or the use of mobile
phones as helpful methods in maintaining or improving adherence to ART.
Being on-time with ART was emphasized during counseling by health
workers. In conclusion, patients should be advised to take the dose as
soon as they remember instead of skipping the dose completely when they
are late. Mobile phones and family support could be subjects to focus
on during future counseling particularly with the growing numbers of
mobile phones in Africa and the current focus on telemedicine