Barriers to use of Antiretroviral Drugs in Rakai District of Uganda

Background: About 75of people living with HIV/AIDS (PHAs) who need antiretroviral therapy have no access to these drugs in low-income countries. Objective: To investigate the barriers to use of ART in Rakai district of Uganda Methods: We interviewed 38 key informants and 384 PHAs. Data was collected on: education/mobilization for ART; sources of information for ART; beliefs regarding ART; social support; use of alternative medicine; stigma/discrimination towards PHAs; distance to ART centres; transport costs to ART centres; waiting time; and on suggestions as how to improve the use of ART. Results: The major barriers mentioned regarding use of ART included: inadequate mobilization; long waiting time at ART treatment centres; high cost of transport to reach ART centres; stigma/discrimination towards PHAs and inadequate number of health workers to attend to PHAs. Conclusions: Access to antiretroviral therapy could be ameliorated by: improving community education using innovative approaches such as through music; dance and videos; increasing the number of providers who are able to provide ART as through engagement of non health professionals in ART care; bringing ART nearer to where people live and instituting measures aimed at reducing stigma/discrimination such as through involvement of PHAs in demystisfying HIV/AIDS