Adherence misfits: Divergent perspectives on ART-defaulting among HIV-positive adolescents, caregivers and healthcare workers

“Adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART) is one of the greatest healthcare challenges facing HIV-positive adolescents.

In Southern Africa, adolescents have poorer ART adherence than adults, with associated lower rates of viral suppression and immune-recovery, and higher rates of HIV-related mortality and morbidity.

A growing literature documents socio-structural and clinical factors associated with ART non-adherence among adolescents.

Comparably little research has been conducted on how adolescents themselves understand non-adherence, and how their understandings differ from adult caregivers and healthcare providers.”