Reasons for ART non-adherence in the Deep South: Adherence needs of a sample of HIV-positive patients in Mississippi

HIV prevalence in the American Deep South has reached crisis proportions and greater numbers of patients are enrolling in clinical care and beginning antiretroviral therapy (ART). In order to gain maximum benefit from ART, patients must sustain high levels of adherence to demanding regimens over extended periods of time. Many patients are unable to maintain high rates of adherence and may need assistance to do so, which may be based upon an understanding of barriers to adherence for a given population. The current study sought to gain understanding of barriers to adherence for a mixed urban/rural HIV-positive patient population in Mississippi and to determine whether barriers to adherence may be specific to gender, employment, depressive symptoms or educational attainment status. Seventy-two patients who missed a dose of ART medication over the last three days endorsed the top five reasons for missing a dose as: (1) not having the medication with them, (2) sleeping through the dose time, (3) running out of the medication, (4) being busy with other things and (5) other. Reported barriers were fairly consistent across different groups, although women and those classified as having moderate to severe depressive symptoms reported different patterns of adherence barriers. Results suggest that adherence interventions implemented in the Deep South must take into account specific barriers faced by individuals within this region, where stigma, gender disparities and limited resources are prevalent.