The implications of nonadherence consistently show that nonadherence or poor adherence diminishes the efficacy of ART and have resulted in the increasing rate of hospitalization, mortality and morbidity among people living with HIV/AIDS despite advancement in medicine and science. The purpose of this study was to explore the phenomenon of adherence to HIV antiretroviral regimens among HIV-infected homeless youth in California. The goal of the study was to clearly understand the perception and perspectives of the issue of adherence from the standpoint of those closest to the individuals experiencing the phenomenon.

A renowned HIV/AIDS service organization in California was selected for the study, and the staff were interviewed. The findings from the study uncovered specific facilitators and barriers to adherence faced by homeless youth living with HIV/AIDS. The study established that one of the major differences between homeless youth and the general population was their attitude to HIV/AIDS; unfortunately, most of the homeless youth in California do not regard HIV as a serious health problem. The study also found that the most serious public health problems in the county where the research study was conducted were homelessness and substance abuse and as such some of the HIV infected youth sell their HIV medications to buy street drugs, while some who are lucky to be HIV-negative wished they were positive, so they could qualify for free housing and other free financial services.

The research study concluded that the quicker homelessness is addressed among youth living with HIV/AIDS the more realistic it will be to focus on medication adherence and ultimately focus on preventing the spread of HIV in California. The research study provides direction for future multifaceted study directed towards addressing the issues of homelessness, substance abuse and prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS among homeless youth living with HIV/AIDS disease as they are all interconnected and one cannot be solved without the other.