Abstract
In adults with HIV, fatigue is a common and disabling symptom associated with suboptimal adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART), poor health and well-being, reduced economic productivity, and increased health care resource use. Fatigue among adolescents with HIV is relatively unexplored. We recruited 14 adolescents with HIV receiving ART in South Africa whom we interviewed about fatigue. We used thematic analysis to analyse the data. Participants reported difficulties in maintaining concentration at school and resorting to self-care strategies such as napping during school hours. Adolescents also described actively avoiding activities thought to lead to fatigue and spoke of being socially excluded by their peers. The findings demonstrate that adolescents experienced symptoms consistent with a definition of fatigue, which had implications for their academic and social lives.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 746-750 |
| Number of pages | 5 |
| Journal | Aids Care-Psychological and Socio-Medical Aspects of Aids/Hiv |
| Volume | 30 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| Early online date | 25 Oct 2017 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2018 |
Keywords
- HIV
- adolescents
- antiretroviral therapy
- fatigue
- qualitative
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Social Psychology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Access to Document
- Accepted Version (PDF)
This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in AIDS Care on 25 October 2017, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/10.1080/09540121.2017.1394433.