Low Birthweight, Retention in HIV Care, and Adherence to ART Among Postpartum Women Living with HIV in Ghana

Kwame S. Sakyi; Margaret Y. Lartey; Julie A. Dension; Caitlin E. Kennedy; Luke C. Mullany; Prince G. Owusu; Awewura Kwara; Pamela J. Surkan

doi:10.1007/s10461-018-2194-2

Low Birthweight, Retention in HIV Care, and Adherence to ART Among Postpartum Women Living with HIV in Ghana

Kwame S. Sakyi, Margaret Y. Lartey, Julie A. Dension, Caitlin E. Kennedy, Luke C. Mullany, Prince G. Owusu, Awewura Kwara, Pamela J. Surkan

Bloomberg School of Public Health

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

Care for low birthweight (LBW) infants can contribute to psychological difficulties and stigma among mothers living with HIV, creating challenges for antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and retention in HIV care. We explored how caring for LBW infants affects maternal ART adherence and retention in care. We conducted 30 in-depth interviews with postpartum women living with HIV in Accra, Ghana: 15 with LBW infants and 15 with normal birthweight (NBW) infants. Compared to mothers with NBW infants, mothers with LBW infants described how caring for their newborns led to increased caregiver burden, prolonged hospital stays, and stigma—contributing to incomplete ART adherence and missed clinical appointments. For a few women, care for LBW infants created opportunities for re-engagement in HIV care and motivation to adhere to ART. Results suggest women living with HIV and LBW babies in Ghana face increased challenges that impact their adherence to care and ART.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	433-444
Number of pages	12
Journal	AIDS and behavior
Volume	23
Issue number	2
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-018-2194-2
State	Published - Feb 15 2019

Keywords

ART adherence
Low birthweight
Postpartum women
Qualitative
Retention in HIV care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases

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10.1007/s10461-018-2194-2

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title = "Low Birthweight, Retention in HIV Care, and Adherence to ART Among Postpartum Women Living with HIV in Ghana",

abstract = "Care for low birthweight (LBW) infants can contribute to psychological difficulties and stigma among mothers living with HIV, creating challenges for antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and retention in HIV care. We explored how caring for LBW infants affects maternal ART adherence and retention in care. We conducted 30 in-depth interviews with postpartum women living with HIV in Accra, Ghana: 15 with LBW infants and 15 with normal birthweight (NBW) infants. Compared to mothers with NBW infants, mothers with LBW infants described how caring for their newborns led to increased caregiver burden, prolonged hospital stays, and stigma—contributing to incomplete ART adherence and missed clinical appointments. For a few women, care for LBW infants created opportunities for re-engagement in HIV care and motivation to adhere to ART. Results suggest women living with HIV and LBW babies in Ghana face increased challenges that impact their adherence to care and ART.",

keywords = "ART adherence, Low birthweight, Postpartum women, Qualitative, Retention in HIV care",

author = "Sakyi, {Kwame S.} and Lartey, {Margaret Y.} and Dension, {Julie A.} and Kennedy, {Caitlin E.} and Mullany, {Luke C.} and Owusu, {Prince G.} and Awewura Kwara and Surkan, {Pamela J.}",

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AU - Dension, Julie A.

AU - Kennedy, Caitlin E.

AU - Mullany, Luke C.

AU - Owusu, Prince G.

AU - Kwara, Awewura

AU - Surkan, Pamela J.

PY - 2019/2/15

Y1 - 2019/2/15

N2 - Care for low birthweight (LBW) infants can contribute to psychological difficulties and stigma among mothers living with HIV, creating challenges for antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and retention in HIV care. We explored how caring for LBW infants affects maternal ART adherence and retention in care. We conducted 30 in-depth interviews with postpartum women living with HIV in Accra, Ghana: 15 with LBW infants and 15 with normal birthweight (NBW) infants. Compared to mothers with NBW infants, mothers with LBW infants described how caring for their newborns led to increased caregiver burden, prolonged hospital stays, and stigma—contributing to incomplete ART adherence and missed clinical appointments. For a few women, care for LBW infants created opportunities for re-engagement in HIV care and motivation to adhere to ART. Results suggest women living with HIV and LBW babies in Ghana face increased challenges that impact their adherence to care and ART.

AB - Care for low birthweight (LBW) infants can contribute to psychological difficulties and stigma among mothers living with HIV, creating challenges for antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and retention in HIV care. We explored how caring for LBW infants affects maternal ART adherence and retention in care. We conducted 30 in-depth interviews with postpartum women living with HIV in Accra, Ghana: 15 with LBW infants and 15 with normal birthweight (NBW) infants. Compared to mothers with NBW infants, mothers with LBW infants described how caring for their newborns led to increased caregiver burden, prolonged hospital stays, and stigma—contributing to incomplete ART adherence and missed clinical appointments. For a few women, care for LBW infants created opportunities for re-engagement in HIV care and motivation to adhere to ART. Results suggest women living with HIV and LBW babies in Ghana face increased challenges that impact their adherence to care and ART.

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KW - Low birthweight

KW - Postpartum women

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KW - Retention in HIV care

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Low Birthweight, Retention in HIV Care, and Adherence to ART Among Postpartum Women Living with HIV in Ghana

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Keywords

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