Paying to Normalize Life: Monetary and Psychosocial Costs of Realizing a Normal Life in the Context of Free Antiretroviral Therapy Services in Uganda
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC)
Abstract
Antiretroviral therapy (ART) is considered the treatment that enables people living with HIV (PLHIV) to lead a “normal life”. In
spite of the availability of free treatment, patients in resource-poor settings may continue to incur additional costs to realize a
normal and full life. This article describes the monetary expenses and psychosocial distress people on free ART bear to live
normally. We conducted in-depth interviews with 50 PLHIV on ART. We found that the demands of treatment, poverty, stigma,
and health-system constraints interplay to necessitate that PLHIV bear continuous monetary and psychosocial costs to realize
local values that define normal life. In the context, access to free medicines is not sufficient to enable PLHIV in resource-poor
settings to normalize life. Policy makers and providers should consider proactively complementing free ART with mechanisms
that empower PLHIV economically, enhance their problem-solving capacities, and provide an enabling environment if the
objective of normalizing life is to be achieved.
Description
Keywords
Antiretroviral therapy, Money, Normal life, People living with HIV, Psychosocial costs, Uganda
Citation
Nanfuka, E. K., Kyaddondo, D., Ssali, S. N., & Asingwire, N. (2019). Paying to Normalize Life: Monetary and Psychosocial Costs of Realizing a Normal Life in the Context of Free Antiretroviral Therapy Services in Uganda. Journal of the International Association of Providers of AIDS Care (JIAPAC), 18, 2325958219859654. DOI: 10.1177/2325958219859654