A transdisciplinary health perspective of ARV pathways in an informal settlement

A transdisciplinary health perspective of ARV pathways in an informal settlement

Background: South Africa has one of the largest antiretroviral (ARV) consumer markets, globally. When traces of ARVs surfaced in South African water sources, scientists from environmental sciences collaborated with health – and social sciences to explore this phenomenon. The intersectionality of HIV implied that ARVs in water would be best understood from a holistic perspective.

Aim: To describe a transdisciplinary health perspective of the possible ARV pathways presented in a typical Gauteng-based informal settlement.

Methods: A qualitative, explorative, descriptive and contextual design was followed through an integrated literature review. Data were collected between February and March 2017 (N-52).

Results: Four major pathways were presented and a conceptual framework depicted. The first pathway presents the distribution of ARVs through South African health systems. This pathway explained ARV value chains within primary health care (PHC). The second pathway is the biological perspectives of ARV from consumption to excretion. The third pathway denotes ARVs within the psychosocial realities of living in an informal settlement. The fourth pathway consider the risks of improper ARV disposal practices and ARVs filtering into the natural resources.