Experiences of students with immunological and virological failure on antiretroviral drugs at the University of Limpopo, Limpopo Province, South Africa

Abstract

Virological failure occurs when the viral load fails to supress to undetectable limit and immunological failure is when the immune system fails to improve with the CD4 count remaining low on clients on antiretroviral drugs. These being markers of poor adherence to antiretroviral drugs or treatment failure. Upon routine blood-monitoring of students on antiretroviral drugs, the researcher noticed that some students’ viralload levels were not suppressing and their immune system was not improving. The purpose of the study was to identify the experiences of those students whose viral load is not suppressing and their immune system not improving. The objective was to identify and describe the experiences of students with immunological and virological failure on antiretroviral drugs at the University of Limpopo. A qualitative, explorative and descriptive study design was used. Convenience purposive sampling method was adopted. Using a semi-structured interview guide, face-toface interviews were conducted on 10 students on antiretroviral drugs at the Student Health and Wellness Centre, University of Limpopo. Techs’ method was used to analyse data. Guba’s model for establishing trustworthiness was used. The study yielded the following themes: Disclosure, stigma, antiretroviral drugs packaging, side effects of antiretroviral drugs and service delivery. The study concluded that students are afraid to take their treatment for fear of stigmatisation and disclosure is still a problem. Students tend to forfeit taking drugs when studying for examinations due to side effects of the drugs. It is recommended that service delivery and antiretroviral drugs packaging be user friendly.

Key words: Disclosure, stigma, side effects, antiretroviral drugs packaging and antiretroviral drugs.