Attitudes Toward Antiretroviral Therapy and Complementary and Alternative Medicine in Chinese Patients Infected With HIV

HIV is an emerging health issue in China, and effective antiretroviral therapy (ART) is now available throughout the country. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) includes traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and has been used in Chinese society for more than 5,000 years. In the West, CAM use is widespread among HIV-infected individuals; however, rates of CAM use among HIV-infected individuals in China are unknown. This qualitative study explores issues related to attitudes toward ART and CAM in HIV-infected individuals in Beijing, China. Semistructured, in-depth interviews were used to explore attitudes, experiences, and perceptions about ART and CAM among people living with HIV (PLWH). Results indicate that Chinese PLWH have both positive and negative attitudes toward ART and CAM, which led many to report taking CAM not only for daily discomforts but to counteract the side effects of ART. This study shows that social, cultural, and governmental factors coalesced to shape Chinese PLWH attitudes toward ART and CAM.

Key words: antiretroviral therapy, attitudes, complementary and alternative medicine, Chinese, HIV infection, traditional Chinese medicine