HEALTH

Helping Kids Stick to HIV Treatment: What Parents Say

Wed Sep 10 2025

In Türkiye, parents of children with HIV face significant challenges in ensuring their kids take antiretroviral therapy (ART) regularly. This treatment is crucial for managing HIV, but it's not always easy.

Hurdles Parents Face

  • Cost of ART: Some parents struggle with the financial burden.
  • Medication Schedule: Keeping track of doses is difficult, especially for parents with multiple children.
  • Child Resistance: Some children resist taking medicine due to lack of understanding or dislike of taste.

What Helps Parents Succeed

  • Healthcare Support: Clear explanations from doctors and nurses boost confidence.
  • Reminders & Routines: Alarms and turning medication into a routine (like brushing teeth) help.
  • Education: Parents who understand HIV and ART better support their children more effectively.

Community Support Matters

Parents who feel understood and supported by others in similar situations find it easier to manage their child's treatment. No one should face this journey alone.

questions

    Are there any hidden agendas behind the promotion of ART adherence among children in Türkiye?
    What strategies have been found effective in improving ART adherence among children in Türkiye?
    If a child with HIV in Türkiye refuses to take their ART, would offering them a bribe of ice cream work better than a lecture?

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