A Qualitative Assessment of the Determinants of Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy among Adolescents living with HIV in the Centre Region of Cameroon

Background: Adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is known to be challenging among adolescents living with HIV/AIDS, meanwhile it is the key to success for ART programmes. In Cameroon, although a few researchers have investigated on the quantitative aspects of adherence among adolescents, less is known about qualitative information. This study aimed at investigating the key factors that contribute to ART adherence for adolescents living with HIV in the Centre Region of Cameroon.   Methods: The study was conducted in the Centre Region of Cameroon. Adolescents on ART with disclosed status was recruited from health facilities. Six focus group discussion (FGD) sessions were conducted with 56 adolescents both girls and boys aged more than 15. In addition, 3 FGD with 34 parents/guardians and 10 individual in-depth interviews with health care providers were all conducted between the months of June and September 2018.   Results: A total of 56 adolescents, 34 parents and 10 health care providers were approached for participation. Results showed that a range of factors related to the individual, family, environment, medication and health system levels determine the reasons for poor adherence to ART among adolescents living with HIV. In fact, most adolescents mentioned in this study that compliance with medicine intake is seen as a punishment or drudgery.     Conclusion: In supporting adherence to ART, it would be important to develop approaches that facilitate and help adolescents to adequately comply to medication intake like the creation of discussion groups through phone messages and WhatsApp for the sharing of experiences and for mutual support. A multi-sectorial approach would also be needed to address this issue.