Determinants of option B+ treatment adherence among HIV-positive breastfeeding women in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Zimbabwe is one of the countries in sub-Saharan Africa with the highest prevalence of HIV. Despite the launch of the Option B+ treatment approach in 2013 to eliminate mother-to-child transmission, the number of pregnant women and children living with HIV is still high due to non-adherence. This prompted this study with the aim to explore the determinants of adherence to Option B+ HIV treatment among HIV-positive breastfeeding women. This descriptive phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of 12 purposively recruited HIV-positive breastfeeding women in 2020 through in-depth interviews. The collected data were analysed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological data analysis framework. The study findings revealed that client-related factors such as food insecurity, travel, early infant diagnosis, and treatment-related factors such as the unavailability of drugs, the side effects of medications, and health institution-related factors are barriers to adherence among HIV-positive breastfeeding women. The findings also indicated that support from the family, health care workers, awareness of the benefits of the treatment plan, and positive role models are promoters of adherence. To improve breastfeeding women's adherence to Option B+ HIV treatment, the identified barriers to adherence should be addressed while optimising the motivators of adherence.