Contextual factors influencing self-management of adolescents and youth living with HIV: A cross-sectional survey in Lesotho
Abstract
HIV treatment outcomes of adolescents and youth living with HIV (AYLWH)
are lagging. One way to improve outcomes is through supporting AYLWH to acquire self-management
skills. Although self-management is associated with improved health outcomes, condition-specific,
individual/family, and social/environmental contextual factors influence self-management. We aimed
to describe factors influencing the self-management of AYLWH in Lesotho. Methods: A cross-sectional
survey design was used. AYLWH (n = 183) aged 15–24 were conveniently sampled from two HIV
treatment sites in Lesotho. Participants completed self-report questionnaires in English or Sesotho. Participants (89.1% female) had high HIV self-management scores (mean 92.7%, SD 5.3%) that
corresponded with treatment outcomes (98.9% adherent and 100% viral load < 1000 copies/mL). This
might be attributed to condition-specific factors, including once-daily doses (100%) and longer duration
of treatment (81.4% on ART for more than 10 years).