Browsing by Author "Tushemereirwe, Patricia"

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    Correlates of HIV treatment adherence self-efficacy among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in southwestern Uganda
    (Public Library of Science, 2024-09) Ashaba, Scholastic; Baguma, Charles; Tushemereirwe, Patricia; Nansera, Denis; Maling, Samuel; Zanon, Brian C; Tsai, Alexander C
    Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa is sub-optimal compared to younger children and older adults. Adherence self-efficacy is one of the intrapersonal factors most strongly correlated with ART adherence. The role of adherence self-efficacy in ART adherence among AYLHIV is not well studied in Uganda. We enrolled 300 AYLHIV between October and December 2021 from an HIV clinic in southwestern Uganda. We collected information on adherence self-efficacy, HIV stigma, depression, self-management, and social skills. We used linear regression to estimate the association between adherence self-efficacy and the covariates of interest. At multivariable adjustment self-management (b = 0.29, 95% CI 0.23-0.35, p<0.001) and social skills (b = 0.16, 95% CI 0.08-0.24; p<0.001) were statistically significantly associated with adherence self-efficacy. The findings imply that interventions directed at enhancing self-management and social skills in AYLHIV may increase adherence self-efficacy and, potentially, HIV outcomes among AYLHIV.Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) among adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYLHIV) in sub-Saharan Africa is sub-optimal compared to younger children and older adults. Adherence self-efficacy is one of the intrapersonal factors most strongly correlated with ART adherence. The role of adherence self-efficacy in ART adherence among AYLHIV is not well studied in Uganda. We enrolled 300 AYLHIV between October and December 2021 from an HIV clinic in southwestern Uganda. We collected information on adherence self-efficacy, HIV stigma, depression, self-management, and social skills. We used linear regression to estimate the association between adherence self-efficacy and the covariates of interest. At multivariable adjustment self-management (b = 0.29, 95% CI 0.23-0.35, p<0.001) and social skills (b = 0.16, 95% CI 0.08-0.24; p<0.001) were statistically significantly associated with adherence self-efficacy. The findings imply that interventions directed at enhancing self-management and social skills in AYLHIV may increase adherence self-efficacy and, potentially, HIV outcomes among AYLHIV. MEDLINE - Academic
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    Shortening ‘‘the Road’’ to Improve Engagement with HIV Testing Resources: A Qualitative Study Among Stakeholders in Rural Uganda
    (AIDS Patient Care and STDs, 2021) Broderick, Kathryn; Ponticiello, Matthew; Nabukalu, Doreen; Tushemereirwe, Patricia; Nuwagaba, Gabriel; King, Rachel; Mwanga-Amumpaire, Juliet; Sundararajan, Radhika
    In HIV-endemic areas, traditional healers are frequently used with, or instead of, biomedical resources for health care needs. Studies show healers are interested in and capable of supporting patients in the HIV care cascade. However, adults who receive care from healers have low engagement with HIV services. To achieve epidemic control, we must understand gaps between the needs of HIV-endemic communities and the potential for healers to improve HIV service uptake. This study's objective was to characterize stakeholder perspectives on barriers to HIV testing and approaches to mitigate barriers in a medically pluralistic, HIV-endemic region. This study was conducted in Mbarara District, a rural area of southwestern Uganda with high HIV prevalence. Participants included HIV clinical staff, traditional healers, and adults receiving care from healers. Fifty-six participants [N = 30 females (52%), median age 40 years (interquartile range, 32–51.5)] were recruited across three stakeholder groups for minimally structured interviews. Themes were identified using an inductive, grounded theory approach and linked together to create a framework explaining stakeholder perspectives on HIV testing. Stakeholders described the “road” to HIV testing as time-consuming, expensive, and stigmatizing. All agreed healers could mitigate barriers by delivering HIV testing at their practices. Collaborations between biomedical and traditional providers were considered essential to a successful healer-delivered HIV testing program. This work describes a novel approach to “shorten the road” to HIV testing, suggesting that traditional healer-delivered HIV testing holds promise to expand uptake of testing among communities with limited access to existing programs.