Measuring Adherence to Antiretroviral Treatment in… : DASH Story 2013-02-20
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I am a researcher in Public Health in eShowe, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa, working at eShowe Hospital - a rural government hospital at the heart of the HIV epidemic in South Africa. I am working on a research project into adherence to ARVs. Adherence rates are dangerously low at the hospital. Out of 9000 patients, there is a possible 60% attrition rate, viral loads amongst the same proportion of patients are over 1000 copies/ml and staff are demoralised and directionlesss. We are trying to find a way forward. The research is aimed at getting behind the reasons people are defaulting on treatment and then building a strong net of support around them that is based on real life situations to help them adhere. Your access to information is key for setting the parameters for our research here. With free access we are able to use it - all those articles that are accessible only through payment are beyond the purse of a small rural hospital such as ours. We are indeed very grateful and WISH that more agencies would allow us such access.
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ZA