| Abstract |
 The
number of reproductive age women living with HIV infection
and AIDS are increasing in the United States and throughout
the world. In addition to raising children born prior to becoming
infected, many HIV seropositive women remain committed to
having children. Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART)
can dramatically decrease viral load, increase CD4 counts
and prolong the lives of individuals who are infected with
HIV. However, adherence is essential to the effectiveness
of HAART, and for women raising children, there are many challenges
to adhering to therapy. Innovative approaches are needed to
increase access and adherence to HAART in this population.
Dr. Mitty seeks to understand how to effectively tailor Directly
Observed Therapy for HAART to women with children. Focus groups
and semi-structured interviews will be conducted with convenience
samples of HIV seropositive women with children to explore
attitudes towards HIV treatment and barriers and facilitators
to adherence and acceptance of a DOT program. Based on qualitative
research findings, in the second phase of the project she
will develop and pilot a non-randomized directly observed
therapy intervention tailored to women with children living
in the home.
|
