Medication Adherence Among African American Women Who Have Been HIV Positive for 10 or More Years

Although new HIV infections in African American women have decreased, this population still constitutes the over half of all new HIV infections in women. Risk-reduction interventions and advancements in antiretroviral therapies have helped HIV-positive persons live longer. However, there are lags in care linkages and retention. Medication adherence is an important aspect of enhancing quality of and prolonging lives of persons living with HIV/AIDS. While studies have explored barriers and facilitators to medication adherence, gaps in the literature related to adherence for high-risk populations remain. By using narrative inquiry and the Health Belief Model, this exploratory study sought to gain insight on facilitators of and barriers to medication adherence among African American women who have been HIV positive for 10 or more years. The women discussed personal experiences and cues to action that help them remain adherent. Additional studies testing interventions designed specifically for long-term survivors may be advantageous within public health.