Beliefs in Antiretroviral Treatment and Self-Efficacy in HIV Management are Associated with Distinctive HIV Treatment Trajectories

Abstract

An online survey was conducted among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Australia to discern key factors associated with distinctive ART use patterns. The sample (N = 358), was further divided into three groups: those on ART continuously since initiation (n = 208, 58.1%); those on ART intermittently (n = 117, 32.7%); and those not on ART at the time of survey (n = 33, 9.2%). ART non-users were the most likely to hold serious concerns about ART that outweighed perceived necessities (benefits) from ART (AOR = 0.13; 95% CI 0.06-0.29; p < 0.001). They were also the least self-efficacious in HIV disease management (AOR = 0.29; 95% CI 0.09-0.87; p = 0.028). Intermittent ART users were more likely to receive their HIV diagnosis prior to 2003 (AOR = 0.38; 95% CI 0.28-0.53; p < 0.001) and perceive lower HIV management self-efficacy (AOR = 0.50, 95% CI 0.28-0.87; p = 0.015) than continuous users. ART-related beliefs and perceived self-efficacy in HIV self-management play an important role in achieving universal treatment uptake and sustained high levels of adherence.