HIV Treatment Adherence Counseling and Retention Guide

Publish date:
November 09, 2023
Adherence Counseling Retention Aid

This is a job aid for counselors and providers working with people with HIV.

The purpose of this tool is to guide people with HIV to plan and achieve treatment adherence goals. It can be used in the first or second counseling session to introduce a client to treatment and develop plans for adherence or in subsequent sessions when challenges arise that affect viral suppression.

The tool has three sections. Each section focuses on a specific topic or potential challenges clients might face in maintaining adherence.

  • Section 1. Introduction to HIV treatment
  • Section 2. Addressing barriers to adherence
  • Section 3. Returning to care and special situations

The tool includes

  • A flip chart
  • Talking points with key messages
  • Provider instructions with specific guidance on how to optimize messaging and/or counseling
  • Questions to assess the client’s understanding of what was discussed, and provide opportunities for motivational interviewing techniques to address misconceptions,
  • Instructions on the use of additional tools
  • An Adherence Barriers and Interventions Log tool can be used in initial and follow-up counseling sessions to document findings from the discussions.

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