{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,19]],"date-time":"2026-08-19T03:25:46Z","timestamp":1787109946566,"version":"build-2736575974"},"reference-count":19,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"8","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,3]],"date-time":"2026-02-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770076800000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,3]],"date-time":"2026-02-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1770076800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100004434","name":"Universit\u00e0 degli Studi di Firenze","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100004434","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"crossref"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["AIDS Behav"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,8]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:p>Despite advancements in antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Tanzania, adherence remains a challenge, especially among young people living with HIV (YPLHIV) aged 10\u201324 years. This study, conducted in the Shinyanga region of Tanzania, explored the factors affecting access and adherence to ART among YPLHIV. Access to ART refers to the ability to reach, enroll, and receive HIV care and education; adherence refers to proper use of medications as prescribed. The research employed focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with YPLHIV and their caregivers. Data were transcribed and thematically analyzed using Atlas.ti software. The qualitative data analysis revealed clear categories of barriers and facilitators. Barriers to ART access and adherence included forgetfulness, lack of privacy, family instability, poverty, reflected in lack of food or water. Perceived stigma and discrimination from family, school or community members played a significant role, alongside low participation in adherence support activities. Factors facilitating ART access and adherence included disclosure of HIV status and access to social or emotional support from the family members, peers, teachers, health workers, and community members. These factors may increase knowledge about the risks of treatment failure and drug resistance, help reduce their perceived stigma and discrimination and support treatment continuity. Interventions by health workers, family members, peers, teachers\u2014at individual and social levels\u2014as well as by government and local health authorities\u2014at the policy level\u2014are needed to address the above barriers and facilitators to ART access and adherence among YPLHIV enrolled in HIV care. A pesar de los avances en la terapia antirretroviral (TAR) en Tanzania, la adherencia sigue siendo un desaf\u00edo, especialmente entre los j\u00f3venes que viven con VIH (JVVHIV) de entre 10 y 24 a\u00f1os. Este estudio, realizado en la regi\u00f3n de Shinyanga en Tanzania, explor\u00f3 los factores que afectan el acceso y la adherencia a la TAR entre los JVVHIV. El acceso a la TAR se refiere a la capacidad de llegar, inscribirse y recibir atenci\u00f3n y educaci\u00f3n sobre el VIH; la adherencia se refiere al uso adecuado de los medicamentos seg\u00fan lo prescrito. La investigaci\u00f3n emple\u00f3 discusiones en grupos focales y entrevistas en profundidad con los JVVHIV y sus cuidadores. Los datos fueron transcritos y analizados tem\u00e1ticamente utilizando el software Atlas.ti. El an\u00e1lisis cualitativo revel\u00f3 categor\u00edas claras de barreras y facilitadores. Las barreras al acceso y la adherencia a la TAR incluyeron el olvido, la falta de privacidad, la inestabilidad familiar y la pobreza, reflejada en la falta de alimentos o agua. La percepci\u00f3n de estigma y discriminaci\u00f3n por parte de familiares, compa\u00f1eros de escuela o miembros de la comunidad desempe\u00f1\u00f3 un papel significativo, junto con una baja participaci\u00f3n en actividades de apoyo a la adherencia. Los factores que facilitan el acceso y la adherencia a la TAR incluyeron la divulgaci\u00f3n del estado serol\u00f3gico y el acceso a apoyo social o emocional por parte de familiares, compa\u00f1eros, maestros, trabajadores de la salud y miembros de la comunidad. Estos factores pueden aumentar el conocimiento sobre los riesgos de fracaso del tratamiento y resistencia a los medicamentos, ayudar a reducir la percepci\u00f3n de estigma y discriminaci\u00f3n y apoyar la continuidad del tratamiento. Se necesitan intervenciones por parte de los trabajadores de la salud, familiares, compa\u00f1eros, maestros\u2014a nivel individual y social\u2014as\u00ed como por parte del gobierno y las autoridades sanitarias locales\u2014a nivel de pol\u00edticas\u2014para abordar las barreras y facilitadores mencionados en el acceso y adherencia a la TAR entre los JVVHIV inscritos en cuidados por VIH.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1007\/s10461-026-05052-2","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,3]],"date-time":"2026-02-03T05:40:41Z","timestamp":1770097241000},"page":"2269-2280","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Barriers and Facilitators of Access and Adherence to Antiretroviral Therapy Among Young People Living with HIV in Shinyanga Region, Tanzania"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"30","author":[{"given":"Constantine Alex","family":"Ntanguligwa","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marta","family":"Tilli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Beatrice","family":"Borchi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Optat","family":"Kajuna","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Angela","family":"Munishi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Christina","family":"Jahari","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chrispin","family":"Mgute","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Idd Amiri","family":"Salehe","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Marianne","family":"Strohmeyer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Valentina","family":"Petrini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Chiara","family":"Didon\u00e8","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giovanni","family":"Putoto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Gaetano","family":"Azzimonti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Alessandro","family":"Bartoloni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Lorenzo","family":"Zammarchi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Giulia","family":"Morigoni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Francesca","family":"Ierardi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,2,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"5052_CR1","unstructured":"UNAIDS. 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Both FGDs and IDIs were carried out in confidential environments, sensitive information was omitted from transcripts through anonymization, and all data were securely stored in password-protected files.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","label":"Ethical Approval","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Ethical approval was granted by the Tanzania National Institute for Medical Research in November 2022 (NIMR\/HQ\/R.8a\/Vol.IX\/4162). 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