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The Influences of Stress and Social Support on Adherence to Health Promotion Strategies by People Living with HIV/AIDS in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
(Journal of HIV/AIDS & Social Services, 2010) Kaijage, Theresa J.
Abstract In Tanzania, about 7% of the adult population is HIV-infected. Given limited pharmaceutical options, adherence to strategies that foster health and well-being is vital to reducing both new and repeated HIV exposure. We investigated the influences of HIV/AIDS-related stress and social support on adherence to health promotion strategies by people living with HIV/AIDS in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. In-person interviews were conducted with 212 individuals who were clients of local AIDS service organizations. Regression analyses indicated that HIV-associated stress had a direct, negative effect on adherence, decreasing the practice of health-maintaining behaviors and increasing engagement in sexual risk behaviors. Informal social support moderated the relationship between stress and sexual risk but did not buffer the impact of stress on health-enhancing behaviors. No moderation effect was found for formal social support. The implications of our findings for social work and public health practice are discussed.