scholarly journals Retention and predictors of attrition among patients who started antiretroviral therapy in Zimbabwe’s National Antiretroviral Therapy Programme between 2012 and 2015

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Makurumidze ◽  
Tsitsi Mutasa-Apollo ◽  
Tom Decroo ◽  
Regis C. Choto ◽  
Kudakwashe C. Takarinda ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundThe last evaluation to assess outcomes for patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) through the Zimbabwe public sector was conducted in 2011, covering the 2007-2010 cohorts. The reported retention at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months were 90.7%, 78.1%, 68.8% and 64.4%, respectively. We report findings of a follow up evaluation for the 2012-2015 cohorts to assess the implementation & impact of recommendations from this prior evaluation.MethodsA nationwide retrospective study was conducted in 2016. Multi-stage proportional sampling was used to select health facilities and study participants records. The data extracted from patient manual records included demographic, baseline clinical characteristics and patient outcomes (active on treatment, died, transferred out, stopped ART and lost to follow-up (LFTU)) at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months. The data were analysed using Stata/IC 14.2. Retention was estimated using survival analysis. The predictors associated with attrition were determined using a multivariate Cox regression model.ResultsA total of 3,810 participants were recruited in the study. The median age in years was 35 (IQR: 28-42). Overall, retention increased to 92.4%, 86.5%, 79.2% and 74.4% at 6, 12, 24 and 36 months respectively. LFTU accounted for 98% of attrition. Being an adolescent or a young adult (aHR 1.41; 95%CI:1.14-1.74), receiving care at primary health care facility (aHR 1.23; 95%CI:1.01-1.49), having initiated ART between 2014-2015 (aHR 1.45; 95%CI:1.24-1.69), having WHO Stage 4 (aHR 2.06; 95%CI:1.51-2.81) and impaired functional status (aHR 1.24; 95%CI:1.04-1.49) predicted attrition.ConclusionThe overall retention was higher in comparison to the previous 2007–-2010 evaluation. Further studies to understand why attrition was found to be higher at primary health care facilities are warranted. Implementation of strategies for managing patients with advanced HIV disease, differentiated care for adolescents and young adults and tracking of LFTU should be prioritised to further improve retention.

Healthcare ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1718
Author(s):  
Euphemia Mbali Mhlongo ◽  
Elizabeth Lutge

Introduction: Evidence from many countries suggests that provision of home and community-based health services, linked to care at fixed primary health care facilities, is critical to good health outcomes. In South Africa, the Ward-Based Primary Health Care Outreach Teams are well placed to provide these services. The teams report to a primary health care facility through their outreach team leader. The facility manager/operational manager provides guidance and support to the outreach team leader. Aim: The aim of the study was to explore and describe the perceptions of facility managers regarding support and supervision of ward-based outreach teams in the National Health Insurance pilot sites in Kwa Zulu-Natal. Setting: The study was carried out in three National Health Insurance pilot districts in KwaZulu- Natal. Methods: An exploratory qualitative design was used to interview 12 primary health care facility managers at a sub-district (municipal) level. The researchers conducted thematic analysis of data. Findings: Some gaps in the supervisory and managerial relationships between ward based primary health care outreach teams and primary health care facility managers were identified. High workload at clinics may undermine the capacity of PHC facility managers to support and supervise the teams. Field supervision seems to take place only rarely and for those teams living far away from the clinic, communication with the clinic manager may be difficult. The study further highlights issues around the training and preparation of the teams. Conclusions: Ward based primary health care outreach teams have a positive impact in preventive and promotive health in rural communities. Furthermore, these teams have also made impact in improving facility indicators. However, their work does not happen without challenges.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suneela Garg ◽  
Saurav Basu ◽  
Ruchir Rustagi ◽  
Amod Borle

BACKGROUND Primary health centers (PHCs) represent the first tier of the Indian health care system, providing a range of essential outpatient services to people living in the rural, suburban, and hard-to-reach areas. Diversion of health care resources for containing the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly undermined the accessibility and availability of essential health services. Under these circumstances, the preparedness of PHCs in providing safe patient-centered care and meeting the current health needs of the population while preventing further transmission of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection is crucial. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to determine the primary health care facility preparedness toward the provision of safe outpatient services during the COVID-19 pandemic in India. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study among supervisors and managers of primary health care facilities attached to medical colleges and institutions in India. A list of 60 faculties involved in the management and supervision of PHCs affiliated with the community medicine departments of medical colleges and institutes across India was compiled from an accessible private organization member database. We collected the data through a rapid survey from April 24 to 30, 2020, using a Google Forms online digital questionnaire that evaluated preparedness parameters based on self-assessment by the participants. The preparedness domains assessed were infrastructure availability, health worker safety, and patient care. RESULTS A total of 51 faculties responded to the survey. Each medical college and institution had on average a total of 2.94 (SD 1.7) PHCs under its jurisdiction. Infrastructural and infection control deficits at the PHC were reported in terms of limited physical space and queuing capacity, lack of separate entry and exit gates (n=25, 49%), inadequate ventilation (n=29, 57%), and negligible airborne infection control measures (n=38, 75.5%). N95 masks were available at 26 (50.9%) sites. Infection prevention and control measures were also suboptimal with inadequate facilities for handwashing and hand hygiene reported in 23.5% (n=12) and 27.4% (n=14) of sites, respectively. The operation of outpatient services, particularly related to maternal and child health, was significantly disrupted (<i>P</i>&lt;.001) during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSIONS Existing PHC facilities in India providing outpatient services are constrained in their functioning during the COVID-19 pandemic due to weak infrastructure contributing to suboptimal patient safety and infection control measures. Furthermore, there is a need for effective planning, communication, and coordination between the centralized health policy makers and health managers working at primary health care facilities to ensure overall preparedness during public health emergencies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 211-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea H.L. Bruning ◽  
Wilhelmina B. de Kruijf ◽  
Henk C.P.M. van Weert ◽  
Anja Vrakking ◽  
Menno D. de Jong ◽  
...  

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