The perception and attitudes of the youth living with HIV on the use of ART and CPT in Lilongwe, Malawi

Shaibu, Sharif; Mlangeni, Onisen; Msimbu, Fancis; Chombo, Atughanile

The perception and attitudes of the youth living with HIV on the use of ART and CPT in Lilongwe, Malawi

Date

2022-02-09

Authors

Abstract

There is generally a large number of youths who are living with HIV/AIDS and are on CPT and ART therapy. It has been noted that most youths do not adhere to this therapy. As such, it is the aim of this research to understand the attitudes and perceptions of the youths on the use of ART and CPT so as to relate this to the non-adherence. Then interventions can be introduced to help mitigate the underlying problems and also advance the fight against HIV/AIDS and its associated opportunistic infections. The broad objective of the study is to assess the perceptions and attitudes of the youth living with HIV/AIDS on the use of ART and CPT at BCMCF-M. The study has two specific objectives; firstly, to explore the perceptions and attitudes of the youth on the use of ART and secondly to determine the perceptions and attitudes on the use of CPT. This is a crosssectional qualitative study to be carried out at BCMCF-M. With support from BCMCF-M, disclosed youths diagnosed with HIV attending the clinic will be identified. Sampling strategy will be purposive and the sample size will be 35. Inclusion criteria will be all disclosed youths living with HIV/AIDS, Those on ART and Those who have consented. The exclusion criteria shall include those not disclosed, those who do not consent and those not meeting the age limit. Interview guides and tape recorder will be used in collection of qualitative primary data which shall later be analyzed and transcribed accordingly. The study is expected to take place within the period of 6 weeks, next academic year, 2022. After careful analysis, we expect that most youths will have negative attitudes and perceptions towards the use of ART and CPT which would then be related to the nonadherence. Study results will be presented at the research dissemination conference at KUHES in Blantyre, Malawi. A report will be submitted to COMREC, KUHES library and BCMCF-M and there will be a publication upon approval from our supervisor.