| WHAT THE MEDIA NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT Treatment Literacy
In light of global efforts to scale up access by people living with HIV (PLHIV) to anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs), the need for information about when and how to take the drugs is becoming more and more important. Before and after ARVs are introduced into communities, people living with HIV, and all those who form their support systems need to understand new and complex ideas around anti-retroviral therapy (ART), side effects associated with taking ARVs, nutrition, and positive living.
What is treatment literacy?
Treatment literacy is the process whereby people, both individually and within communities become literate, or knowledgeable about what ARVs are and how they mitigate the effects of illness in PLHIV. Treatment literacy is also the process of ensuring that medical and scientific information about ARVs and anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is packaged into simplified language that can be easily understood and is accessible to all.
What are the common areas of focus within treatment literacy?
The following are some of the main themes often discussed within treatment literacy, although they are not exhaustive:
- Basic information on HIV and AIDS
- ARVs and HIV: issues around adherence, side effects, when to begin treatment, how to take ARVs
- Stigma and discrimination:
- Prevention and treatment of opportunistic infections and STIs
- Safer and satisfying sex
- The role of good nutrition and health of mind, body and soul
Why is treatment literacy so important?
Treatment literacy leads to greater preparedness for the roll out of ARVs, as well greater knowledge of health options for those who are not already on it. Ultimately, this leads to a marked improvement in health and better adherence to drug regimens. Also, such information helps to dispel incorrect myths and misinformation around HIV and AIDS.
In addition, this literacy leads to higher uptake of voluntary counselling and testing services, as people become more aware of their options in maintaining their health.
What are the challenges in treatment literacy?
One of the biggest challenges in providing information about treatment literacy is the very real circumstance that those who get this information do not have access to the resources – adequate nutrition and ARVs - that will assist them in prolonging their lives. This is very common in resource-limited settings where, unfortunately, the HIV burden tends to be higher.
Why is a community-based approach to treatment literacy important?
Communities wield great power to take actions that have a positive effect on the livelihoods of members. Currently, many communities lack the capacity and resources to understand and support ART. Research shows that communities need more and better information and communication about HIV and ART, as well as informed and trained health providers. This will help them in disseminating accurate information as well as skills.
What can the media do to promote treatment literacy?
The media can play an important role in disseminating information around treatment literacy by reporting more widely on the various areas of treatment literacy for their audiences. This can involve visits with communities to gauge their levels of knowledge around issues, as this will help them in highlighting the different gaps that need to be plugged.
Sources:
http://www.healthlink.org.uk/PDFs/arv.pdf
http://www.safaids.net/files/u1/HIV_Trt_B_Intro___End.pdf
http://www.aidsmap.com/en/cats/62DDE255-0D50-4D9B-9174-E2FB2027D32E.asp
http://www.plusnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=74697
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