Antiretroviral treatment adherence for HIV/AIDS in women: a sociocultural perspective

Background: Adequate adherence to HAART has a high impact on survival of AIDA patients. There is little consensus on the causes of low adherence to treatment in women, who are in a situation of inequality in terms of prevention and related care. Objectives: To explore and describe the socio-cultural aspects related to the adherence of women to antiretroviral treatment for HIV/AIDS. Material and Methods: Qualitative, exploratory-descriptive study. The study population was focused on Chilean women, who are 18 years of age or older, living with HIV/AIDS. The sample size was defined by information saturation. In-depth interviews were conducted with 16 women contacted in seven public care centers for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 4 regions of the country, and it was take into account the saturation of the information. Results: There are several sociocultural factors that determine the level of adherence that women adopt in relation to HAART. The most relevant ones are the vital satisfaction, the imaginary about HIV, the availability of their networks in front of diagnosis and the availability of information are fundamental. Discussion: It is necessary to enter into specific interventions considering the sociocultural aspects and satisfying the psychosocial needs of women. It is imperative that public policies and health teams consider these aspects to improve adherence to HAART.