Religiosity/spirituality and antiretroviral therapy adherence in people living with HIV

Abstract

Religiosity and spirituality (R/S) have stood out among factors associated with adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in people living with HIV. This study aimed to identify evidence on the relationship between R/S and adherence to ART. An integrative literature review was conducted within the CINAHL, LILACS, PePSIC, PsycINFO, PubMed, SciELO, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Empirical articles published between January 2008 and June 2019 were selected, and 49 studies were retrieved after applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria. Positive, negative, and neutral associations were found between R/S and adherence to ART, showing that R/S is a psychosocial dimension that can be a predictor of adherence to antiretrovirals. The meaning of this influence, however, is not yet a consensus in the scientific literature. It is recommended that these influences be understood from the contextual elements of this population and not just from personal markers