Tamale Central Hospital, Ghana Health Service, Tamale, Northern Region, Ghana.
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, College of Health, Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
PLoS One. 2022 Oct 4;17(10):e0275529. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275529. eCollection 2022.
HIV/AIDS is now a chronic disease, as adherence to anti-retrovirals impacts positively on the quality as well as expectancy of life. However, there exist multifaceted barriers to treatments for which children are most disadvantaged. Since Ghana subscribed to the "treat all" policy less percentage (25.5%) of children (2-14 years) living with HIV/AIDS have been enrolled on the antiretroviral program compared to other categories of the population by 2019. At present no study has explored these barriers to children living with HIV/AIDS enrollment and adherence. This study aims to explore the perceived barriers of caregivers of children living with HIV/AIDS in the Tamale Metropolis.
We used descriptive phenomenology to explore the phenomena. Caregivers were purposively selected and interviewed till information became repetitive at the ninth (9th) caregiver. A semi-structured interview guide was used to collect data through face-to-face in-depth interviews which were audio recorded. The interviews lasted an average of 47 minutes. Audio interviews were transcribed verbatim (English) and translated back-to-back (Daghani) before analysis was done manually according to Collaizi's seven-step approach. We used the Guba and Lincoln guidelines to ensure the rigour of the study and its findings. Results are presented in themes and supported with quotes.
Six themes emerged from the analysis of the caregivers' transcripts; (1) denial of HIV/AID diagnosis, (2) stock-outs and privacy at the clinic, (3) busy schedule and poor support, (4) ignorance and alternative herbal cure, (5) stigma and discrimination, (6) transportation and distance.
Perceived barriers are multi-dimensional and encountered by all PLWHA, especially children. These barriers could derail the gains of HIV/AIDS interventions among children. Adherence counselling among caregivers alongside campaigns among faith and herbal healers are of grave concern to reduce myths of cure.
由于抗逆转录病毒的治疗效果对生活质量和预期寿命都有积极影响，艾滋病毒/艾滋病现在已经变成了一种慢性病。然而，由于存在多方面的治疗障碍，儿童处于最不利的地位。自加纳签署“治疗所有”政策以来，与其他人群相比，到 2019 年，只有 25.5%的感染艾滋病毒/艾滋病的儿童（2-14 岁）被纳入抗逆转录病毒方案。目前，还没有研究探讨儿童感染艾滋病毒/艾滋病的纳入和坚持治疗的这些障碍。本研究旨在探索塔马利大都市感染艾滋病毒/艾滋病儿童的照顾者所感知的障碍。
我们使用描述性现象学来探索这一现象。通过有针对性的选择和访谈，直到第九位（9 位）照顾者的信息出现重复，照顾者被纳入研究。使用半结构化访谈指南通过面对面的深入访谈收集数据，访谈进行了录音。访谈平均持续 47 分钟。访谈录音逐字逐句（英文）转录，然后进行回译（Daghani），在根据 Collaizi 的七步分析方法进行手动分析之前，确保研究及其结果的严谨性。结果以主题的形式呈现，并引用了引号。
从照顾者的转录本分析中得出了六个主题；（1）否认艾滋病毒/艾滋病的诊断，（2）诊所缺货和隐私问题，（3）忙碌的日程和缺乏支持，（4）无知和替代草药治疗，（5）污名和歧视，（6）交通和距离。
感知到的障碍是多方面的，所有艾滋病毒感染者，特别是儿童，都面临这些障碍。这些障碍可能会破坏儿童艾滋病毒干预措施的成效。对照顾者进行坚持治疗的咨询，以及对信仰和草药治疗者进行宣传，对于减少治愈的神话至关重要。
