Role of Social Casework in Addressing HIV-Related Stigma and Barriers to Antiretroviral Therapy Adherence: A Structured Review of Secondary Literature

People living with HIV/AIDS may experience difficulties in maintaining antiretroviral therapy because of stigma, fear of disclosure, poverty, mental-health concerns, family conflict, transport difficulties, and problems within healthcare services. Social casework is relevant to this situation because it addresses the individual within the context of family, community, and social institutions. This paper examines the role of social casework in supporting treatment adherence and reducing HIV-related stigma through a structured review of secondary sources. Published research, systematic reviews, official reports, and programme documents were reviewed and organized under four themes: stigma and disclosure, treatment adherence, family and social support, and referral to welfare and health services. The reviewed evidence indicates that stigma may affect adherence by encouraging concealment of medication, reducing social support, weakening coping abilities, and discouraging contact with treatment services. Indian evidence also identifies forgetfulness, travel distance, running out of medicines, alcohol use, depressive symptoms, side effects, and concealment of HIV status as important barriers to adherence. Social casework can respond through psychosocial assessment, individualized case planning, adherence counselling, family intervention, referral, advocacy, service coordination, and follow-up. However, the evidence does not support the assumption that casework produces uniform improvements in adherence. Its contribution is better understood as the reduction of social and psychological barriers that make sustained treatment difficult. The paper concludes that HIV casework should be confidential, person-centred, culturally sensitive, and connected with community-based and government services.