Abstract: Adolescents and young adults living with HIV (AYLHIV) in South Africa often have lower adherence to ART compared to other age groups, which often hinders the self-management of HIV for this population. This study aimed to identify patterns associated with ART adherence below a 90% threshold. Using latent class analysis, a sample of 857 HIV-positive youth on ART were placed into subgroups based upon self-reported reasons for missed ART doses. The subgroup reporting multiple barriers like forgetting, feeling sick, worrying about side effects, or doubting effectiveness of ART had three-times lower odds of reporting good ART adherence than subgroups with only one or more barriers . Barriers such as concerns about side effects and lack of belief in ART efficacy were unique to this group. Simple tools could be used to identify both AYLHIV with co-occurring barriers to ART adherence and individuals who may benefit from targeted interventions. Results also suggest adult accompaniment to clinics, use of youth friendly services and contextual factors would also support AYLHIV adherence.

Citation: Nice, J., Saltzman, L., Thurman, T. R., & Zani, B. (2024). Latent class analysis of ART barriers among adolescents and young adults living with HIV in South Africa. AIDS Care, 36(sup1), 45-53.