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. 2015 Jan;19(1):137-44.
doi: 10.1007/s10461-014-0852-6.

Medical pluralism predicts non-ART use among parents in need of ART: a community survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Marija Pantelic  1 , Lucie Cluver, Mark Boyes, Elona Toska, Caroline Kuo, Mosa Moshabela
Affiliations

Medical pluralism predicts non-ART use among parents in need of ART: a community survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Marija Pantelic et al. AIDS Behav. 2015 Jan.

Abstract

Despite documented common use of traditional healers and efforts to scale up antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa, evidence on whether medical pluralism predicts ART use is inconclusive and restricted to clinic settings. This study quantitatively assesses whether medical pluralism predicts ART use among parents in need of ART in South Africa. 2,477 parents or primary caregivers of children were interviewed in HIV-endemic communities of KwaZulu-Natal. Analysis used multiple logistic regression on a subsample of 435 respondents in need of ART, who reported either medical pluralism (24.6 %) or exclusive public healthcare use (75.4 %). Of 435 parents needing ART, 60.7 % reported ART use. Medical pluralism emerged as a persistent negative predictor of ART utilization among those needing it (AOR [95 % CI] = .556 [.344 - .899], p = .017). Use of traditional healthcare services by those who need ART may act as a barrier to treatment access. Effective intersectoral collaboration at community level is urgently needed.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Differential rates of medical pluralism among users and non-users of ART
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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