by Rotsaert A, Ogara C, Mwanga-Amumpaire J, Kekitiinwa AR, Musiime V, Najjingo E, Kisitu GP, Nazzinda R, Nambi E, Lee J, Diallo M, Kyomuhendo F, Waweru M, Andrieux-Meyer I, Nöstlinger C. Therapeutic Advances in Infectious Disease 2023, 10. doi: https://doi.org/10.1177/20499361231159993
Summary: Lack of age-appropriate antiretroviral formulations is the main obstacle to paediatric access to HIV treatment. DNDi has developed a strawberry-flavoured fixed-dose combination of four antriretroviral medicines (4-in-1) for very young children living with HIV. The authors of this manuscript assessed caregivers’ perceived acceptability of this formulation and the factors that influenced acceptability. They conducted 20 semi-structured interviews within the Phase I/II LOLIPOP trial in Uganda and discovered that all caregivers found the 4-in-1 formulation highly acceptable and easier to use than previous formulations. Its taste, ease of administration, easy storage, and children’s acceptance contributed to acceptability, despite structural challenges of food shortage and HIV stigma. Visible improvements in children’s health and tailored support to overcome initial difficulties increased caregivers’ acceptance.
