Medical Pluralism Predicts Non-ART Use among Parents in Need of ART: A Community Survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Despite documented common use of traditional healers and efforts to scale up antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa, evidence on whether medical pluralism predicts ART use is inconclusive and restricted to clinic settings. This study quantitatively assesses whether medical pluralism pr...

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Main Authors: Pantelic, M., Cluver, L., Boyes, Mark, Toska, E., Kuo, C., Moshabela, M.
Format: Journal Article
Published: Springer New York LLC 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4861
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author Pantelic, M.
Cluver, L.
Boyes, Mark
Toska, E.
Kuo, C.
Moshabela, M.
author_facet Pantelic, M.
Cluver, L.
Boyes, Mark
Toska, E.
Kuo, C.
Moshabela, M.
author_sort Pantelic, M.
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description Despite documented common use of traditional healers and efforts to scale up antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa, evidence on whether medical pluralism predicts ART use is inconclusive and restricted to clinic settings. This study quantitatively assesses whether medical pluralism predicts ART use among parents in need of ART in South Africa. 2,477 parents or primary caregivers of children were interviewed in HIV-endemic communities of KwaZulu-Natal. Analysis used multiple logistic regression on a subsample of 435 respondents in need of ART, who reported either medical pluralism (24.6 %) or exclusive public healthcare use (75.4 %). Of 435 parents needing ART, 60.7 % reported ART use. Medical pluralism emerged as a persistent negative predictor of ART utilization among those needing it (AOR [95 % CI] = .556 [.344 - .899], p = .017). Use of traditional healthcare services by those who need ART may act as a barrier to treatment access. Effective intersectoral collaboration at community level is urgently needed.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-48612019-02-19T05:34:53Z Medical Pluralism Predicts Non-ART Use among Parents in Need of ART: A Community Survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa Pantelic, M. Cluver, L. Boyes, Mark Toska, E. Kuo, C. Moshabela, M. Antiretrovirals ART South Africa Traditional healers Medical pluralism Despite documented common use of traditional healers and efforts to scale up antiretroviral treatment (ART) in sub-Saharan Africa, evidence on whether medical pluralism predicts ART use is inconclusive and restricted to clinic settings. This study quantitatively assesses whether medical pluralism predicts ART use among parents in need of ART in South Africa. 2,477 parents or primary caregivers of children were interviewed in HIV-endemic communities of KwaZulu-Natal. Analysis used multiple logistic regression on a subsample of 435 respondents in need of ART, who reported either medical pluralism (24.6 %) or exclusive public healthcare use (75.4 %). Of 435 parents needing ART, 60.7 % reported ART use. Medical pluralism emerged as a persistent negative predictor of ART utilization among those needing it (AOR [95 % CI] = .556 [.344 - .899], p = .017). Use of traditional healthcare services by those who need ART may act as a barrier to treatment access. Effective intersectoral collaboration at community level is urgently needed. 2014 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4861 10.1007/s10461-014-0852-6 Springer New York LLC fulltext
spellingShingle Antiretrovirals
ART
South Africa
Traditional healers
Medical pluralism
Pantelic, M.
Cluver, L.
Boyes, Mark
Toska, E.
Kuo, C.
Moshabela, M.
Medical Pluralism Predicts Non-ART Use among Parents in Need of ART: A Community Survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title Medical Pluralism Predicts Non-ART Use among Parents in Need of ART: A Community Survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_full Medical Pluralism Predicts Non-ART Use among Parents in Need of ART: A Community Survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_fullStr Medical Pluralism Predicts Non-ART Use among Parents in Need of ART: A Community Survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Medical Pluralism Predicts Non-ART Use among Parents in Need of ART: A Community Survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_short Medical Pluralism Predicts Non-ART Use among Parents in Need of ART: A Community Survey in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
title_sort medical pluralism predicts non-art use among parents in need of art: a community survey in kwazulu-natal, south africa
topic Antiretrovirals
ART
South Africa
Traditional healers
Medical pluralism
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/4861