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. 2023 May 4:45:13.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.2023.45.13.26795. eCollection 2023.

Disclosure of HIV status and adherence to antiretroviral treatment in children and adolescents from Lomé and Abidjan

Tchaa Abalo Bakai  1   2   3   4   5   6 , Jean Iwaz  2   3   4   5 , Elom Ounoo Takassi  7 , Anne Thomas  1   6 , Tanoh Kassi François Eboua  8 , Nagham Khanafer  9 , Tchasso Kenao  7 , Kariyiare Benjamin Goilibe  1 , Esseboe Sewu  1 , Nicolas Voirin  6
Affiliations

Disclosure of HIV status and adherence to antiretroviral treatment in children and adolescents from Lomé and Abidjan

Tchaa Abalo Bakai et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: in Africa, the proportion of minors with AIDS is ever increasing and adherence to treatment protocols is still suboptimal. The study investigated the conditions of HIV status disclosure and adherence to treatment in patients < 19 in two West African cities.

Methods: in 2016, thirteen health professionals and four parents filled out questionnaires to identify problems and solutions relative to disclosure of HIV status and adherence to treatment in 208 children and adolescents seen at University Hospitals in Abidjan (Ivory Coast) and Lomé (Togo).

Results: medians (extrema) of patients´ ages at start and end of status disclosure process were 10 (8-13) and 15 (13-17.5) years. In 61% of cases, disclosure was made individually after preparation sessions. The main difficulties were: parents´ disapproval, skipped visits, and rarity of psychologists. The solutions proposed were: recruiting more full-time psychologists, improving personnel training, and promoting patients´ "clubs". One out of three respondents was not satisfied with patients´ adherence to treatments. The major reasons were: intake frequencies, frequent omissions, school constraints, adverse effects, and lack of perceived effect. Nevertheless, 94% of the respondents confirmed the existence of support groups, interviews with psychologists, and home visits. To improve adherence, the respondents proposed increasing the number of support groups, sustaining reminder phone calls and home visits, and supporting therapeutic mentoring.

Conclusion: despite persisting disclosure and adherence problems, appropriate measures already put into practice still need to be taken further, especially through engaging psychologists, training counsellors, and promoting therapeutic support groups.

Keywords: Children; Ivory Coast; Togo; adolescents; aids; patient compliance; truth disclosure; university hospitals.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
immediate reactions of children and adolescents at disclosure of their HIV status
Figure 2
Figure 2
children’s and adolescents’ problems with adherence to HIV antiviral treatment
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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