Promoting Antiviral Access and Adherence in the Expansion of Hepatitis B Prevention Programs: Insights From the Democratic Republic of Congo
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) antiviral administration and adherence are essential to reach the World Health Organization's 2030 hepatitis elimination goals. As HBV treatment guidelines are now simplified and expanded, adherence to treatment will be critical, but challenges to adherence are poorly studied. After introducing tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) monotherapy to expectant mothers with high-risk HBV in Kinshasa, DRC, we conducted semi-structured interviews to understand medication adherence behaviors, to complement pill counts and measurement of TDF metabolite levels. Key facilitators of adherence identified included trust in healthcare workers, a better understanding of HBV, and family support. Identified barriers included fear of stigma and low health literacy. Knowledge about HBV disease remains low, underscoring the importance of ongoing education of clinic staff and patients alike.
Language: English
Topic: Hepatitis B Virus Studies
Subfield: Epidemiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: University of North Carolina, Wellcome Trust, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Cancer Institute, National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Graduate School, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Awards: G3146292678, Long term outcomes of therapy in women initiated on lifelong ART because of pregnancy in DR Congo, Characterizing Hepatitis B Transmission in Congolese Children, Training in Infectious Disease Epidemiology (TIDE), Central Africa International Epidemiology databases to Evaluate AIDS, The University of North Carolina Center for AIDS Research, Spatial and molecular epidemiology of hepatitis B transmission in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
OpenAlex ID: W4404585164