Abstract
Background: Anecdotal and empirical evidence seems to indicate that many people across the African continent indulge in different cultural practices that impinge on their adherence to the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). These cultural practices vary between ethnicities or regions. Objective: The aim of this paper was to explore the cultural practices affecting HIV positive patients’ adherence to HAART in the Mopani district in Limpopo province, South Africa. Methods: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive study was conducted. Data were collected through one-to-one unstructured interviews using an interview schedule guide. Data were analysed using Tesch’s method of qualitative data analysis. Results: The findings indicate that cultural practices and beliefs concerning diseases and cure, prevailing faith that traditional health practitioners (THPs) could treat HIV/AIDS, stigmatisation of HIV patients, and the belief that HIV is caused by witchcraft and demons were the factors affecting patients on HAART. Clearly, HIV positive patients on HAART concurrently visit and patronise the THPs. This practice is affected by their cultural orientations and negatively impact on their adherence to HAART. Conclusion: The increased patronage of traditional medicine among HIV individuals are HAART calls for the integration of traditional health services into public health, and a multi-disciplinary collaboration would be beneficial to the community.
Highlights
Non- adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) poses a challenge to HIV and AIDS patients because of the health risks associated with it [1]
The increased patronage of traditional medicine among HIV individuals are HAART calls for the integration of traditional health services into public health, and a multi-disciplinary collaboration would be beneficial to the community
The findings of this study revealed that HIV positive patients on HAART believe that traditional health practitioners (THPs) have healing powers to cure HIV, can clean blood and can make a very sick HIV positive patient feel strong with their strong herbs
Summary
Non- adherence to Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) poses a challenge to HIV and AIDS patients because of the health risks associated with it [1]. It is important to monitor the use of traditional medicines among HAART patients in order to prevent drug interaction or resistance to ART [14] For this reason, identifying the cultural factors that affect HAART adherence is important to prevent unsuppressed viral load associated with the use of traditional medicine. Anecdotal and empirical evidence seems to indicate that many people across the African continent indulge in different cultural practices that impinge on their adherence to the Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART). These cultural practices vary between ethnicities or regions
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