Livelihood Security and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy in Low and Middle Income Settings: A Systematic Review
2011

Livelihood Security and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy

Sample size: 20 publication 10 minutes Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Rachlis Beth S., Mills Edward J., Cole Donald C.

Primary Institution: University of Toronto

Hypothesis

What is the association between livelihood security and adherence to antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries?

Conclusion

The study found a significant positive association between financial capital and adherence to antiretroviral therapy, while no significant relationship was found for human or social capital.

Supporting Evidence

  • Financial constraints were commonly associated with non-adherence.
  • Educational level was most commonly associated with adherence.
  • Social support was identified as a facilitator for adherence.

Takeaway

This study looked at how having enough money and resources helps people stick to their HIV treatment. It found that if people have financial support, they are more likely to take their medicine regularly.

Methodology

The study performed a systematic review of 20 original studies and 6 conference abstracts, analyzing the association between livelihood security indicators and adherence to ARVs.

Potential Biases

Potential biases include self-reported adherence and the lack of standardized measures across studies.

Limitations

The majority of included studies were cross-sectional, limiting the ability to establish temporal causality.

Participant Demographics

The studies included diverse populations primarily from Africa, with varying proportions of women and median ages.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.05

Confidence Interval

95% CI: 1.03–2.29

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0018948

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