Introduction
HIV [
South Africa is reported to have the highest burden of HIV with an estimated 8.2 million people living with HIV (PLHIV) in 2021 [ART adherence involves the patient’s long-term and continued engagement with health care providers, pharmacy pill refills, taking medication daily at prescribed times, and following dietary instructions (meaning taking medication with/after/before meals as prescribed) [Studies in sub-Saharan Africa found that PLHIV often experience financial barriers leading to disruption in adherence [In South Africa, all PLHIV have access to government provided ART services, free of direct costs [We do not know how decisions around managing income interacts with ART access and the ability of PLHIV to adhere to ART. In this study, we draw on qualitative data collected as part of the HPTN 071 (PopART) study (a community randomised trial of a universal HIV test and treat strategy on HIV incidence) to understand how income and resources are managed in households affected by HIV [