Facilitators of adherence to antiretroviral therapy among pregnant women in Uganda. a case of Nabbaale sub-county Mukono District

Abstract

This study therefore aimed at understanding the facilitators of adherence to ART by pregnant women in Uganda, taking a case of Nabbaale Sub-County. The specific objectives of the study included; to examine individual level factors that facilitate ART adherence among pregnant women in Nabbaale sub-county and to assess the socio-economic factors facilitating ART adherence among pregnant women in Nabbaale sub-county The study was entirely qualitative and was descriptive and explanatory to give an insight into facilitators to ART adherence among pregnant mothers in Nabbaale Sub-county. It adopted a non-probability purposive sampling technique to choose primary study participants and secondary study participants for the study. The determination of sample size was based on the principle of data saturation in which I chose participants until there was no new data obtained. A total number of twenty (20) primary participants and two (2) secondary respondents were chosen for the study. The study findings revealed that the positive mothers at Nakifuma Health Center III in Nabbaale Subcounty facilitated to adhere to their ART by individual factors such as their economic status, disclosure, desire for a long life and healthy children, perceived effectiveness of the drugs, knowledge on their HIV status and how ARVs work. They were also facilitates by socio economic factors such as their marital status, a good relationship with the health workers and social support from close relatives. Basing on the above findings, efforts from positive mothers, health workers and government are necessary to ensure adherence to ART by pregnant women.