| Chapter 1: | Introduction |
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the virus and hence progression of the disease from HIV to AIDS (Last, 2007). ARV drugs include reverse transcriptase inhibitors and the PIs (Concise Medical Dictionary, 2008).
- 3. HAART: HAART is an abbreviation for highly active antiretroviral therapy. In this study, HAART refers to aggressive ARV drug treatment regimens used to suppress HIV viral replication and the promotion of HIV healthy living behaviors, such as good nutrition and safe sex practices—abstinence from sex if possible, using condoms during sexual intercourse, or having only one sex partner. The usual HAART regimen combines three or more different drugs that may include two NRTIs and a PI, two NRTIs and an NNRTI, or other such combinations.
- 4. HAART adherence: HAART adherence in this study is defined as how closely one follows a prescribed medication regimen as well as lifestyle recommendations. Adherence in this study is operationally defined by responses to questions that measure compliance to the providers’ treatment regimens.
- 5. HIV healthy lifestyle recommendations: HIV healthy lifestyle recommendations in this study refer to abstinence from sex, or having sex with one partner, or always using a condom; abstinence from alcohol; and maintaining good nutrition.
- 6. Perceived quality of life: Perceived quality of life is defined as the individual’s perception of his or her physical and psychological well-being. Perceived quality of life in this study is operationally defined by responses to self-reported measures pertaining to how an individual perceives his or her physical and psychological health.