scholarly journals Barriers and facilitators associated with HIV testing uptake in South African health facilities offering HIV Counselling and Testing

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 86-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Neo Mohlabane ◽  
Bomkazi Tutshana ◽  
Karl Peltzer ◽  
Aziza Mwisongo

Background: The scale-up of HIV Counselling and Testing (HCT) in South Africa to 4500 public health facilities and the service's provision in mobile and non-medical sites was aimed at increasing HCT uptake. However, some people still have never had an HIV test.Objective: An HCT survey was carried out to ascertain barriers and facilitators for HIV testing in South Africa.Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 67 HCT-offering health facilities in 8 South African provinces was undertaken. Individuals (n = 489) who had not tested for HIV on the day of the site visit were interviewed on awareness of HCT services, HIV testing history and barriers to HIV testing. Frequencies were run to describe the sample characteristics, barriers and facilitators to HIV testing. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was usedt o identify the association between never tested for HIV with socio-demographics, awareness of HCT services and type of HCT facilities.Results: In all 18.1% participants never had an HIV test. Major barriers to HCT uptake comprise being scared of finding out one's HIV test result or what people may say, shyness or embarrassment, avoidance of divulging personal information to health workers and fear of death. In multivariate analysis the age group 55 years and older, and not being recommended to have an HIV test were associated with never had an HIV test. Potential facilitators for HIV testing include community or household HIV testing, providing incentives for those who test for HIV, mandatory HIV testing and disclosure of HIV status by those who test HIV positive.Conclusion: The benefits of HCT which include the reduction of HIV transmission, the availability of HIV care and treatment needs to be emphasized to enhance HCT uptake.

2012 ◽  
Vol 127 (4) ◽  
pp. 422-431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda D. Castel ◽  
Manya Magnus ◽  
James Peterson ◽  
Karishma Anand ◽  
Charles Wu ◽  
...  

Objectives. In June 2006, the District of Columbia (DC) Department of Health launched a citywide rapid HIV screening campaign. Goals included raising HIV awareness, routinizing rapid HIV screening, identifying previously unrecognized infections, and linking positives to care. We describe findings from this seminal campaign and identify lessons learned. Methods. We applied a mixed-methods approach using quantitative analysis of client data forms (CDFs) and qualitative evaluation of focus groups with DC residents. We measured characteristics and factors associated with client demographics, test results, and community perceptions regarding the campaign. Results. Data were available on 38,586 participants tested from July 2006 to September 2007. Of those, 68% had previously tested for HIV (44% within the last 12 months) and 23% would not have sought testing had it not been offered. Overall, 662 (1.7%) participants screened positive on the OraQuick® Advance™ rapid HIV test, with non-Hispanic black people, transgenders, and first-time testers being significantly more likely to screen positive for HIV than white people, males, and those tested within the last year, respectively. Of those screening positive for HIV, 47% had documented referrals for HIV care and treatment services. Focus groups reported continued stigma regarding HIV and minimal community saturation of the campaign. Conclusions. This widespread campaign tested thousands of people and identified hundreds of HIV-infected individuals; however, referrals to care were lower than anticipated, and awareness of the campaign was limited. Lessons learned through this scale-up of population-based HIV screening resulted in establishing citywide HIV testing processes that laid the foundation for the implementation of test-and-treat activities in DC.


2019 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth M. Petersen ◽  
Emily B. Wroe ◽  
Kondwani Nyangulu ◽  
Chisomo Kanyenda ◽  
Sam Njolomole ◽  
...  

People living with disabilities (PLWDs) have poor access to health services compared to people without disabilities. As a result, PLWDs do not benefit from some of the services provided at health facilities; therefore, new methods need to be developed to deliver these services where PLWDs reside. This case study reports a household-based screening programme targeting PLWDs in a rural district in Malawi. Between March and November 2016, a household-based and integrated screening programme was conducted by community health workers, HIV testing counsellors and a clinic clerk. The programme provided integrated home-based screening for HIV, tuberculosis, hypertension and malnutrition for PLWDs. The programme was designed and implemented for a population of 37 000 people. A total of 449 PLWDs, with a median age of 26 years and about half of them women, were screened. Among the 404 PLWDs eligible for HIV testing, 399 (99%) agreed for HIV testing. Sixty-nine per cent of PLWDs tested for HIV had never previously been tested for HIV. Additionally, 14 patients self-reported to be HIV-positive and all but one were verified to be active in HIV care. A total of 192 of all eligible PLWDs above 18 years old were screened for hypertension, with 9% (n = 17) referred for further follow-up at the nearest facility. In addition, 274 and 371 PLWDs were screened for malnutrition and tuberculosis, respectively, with 6% (n = 18) of PLWDs referred for malnutrition, and 2% (n = 10) of PLWDs referred for tuberculosis testing. We successfully implemented an integrated home-based screening programme in rural Malawi.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Govha Emmanuel ◽  
Zizhou Simukai Tirivanhu ◽  
Shambira Gerald ◽  
Gombe Tafara Notion ◽  
Tsitsi Juru ◽  
...  

Abstract Background A healthcare-associated infection (HAI) is defined as an infection originating in the environment of a health facility that was not present or incubating at the time of patient admission. HAIs can be prevented through infection, prevention and control (IPC) measures. No hazard identification and risk assessment IPC rounds and monthly meetings were conducted in Goromonzi district since 1st of January to 30th of June 2018. No trainings nor orientation for the new employees was conducted. We therefore evaluated Goromonzi District IPC program. Methods A process-outcome evaluation using the logic model was conducted in Goromonzi district’s 15 health facilities. Checklists, interviewer administered questionnaires and key informant guides were used to collect data on availability of inputs, knowledge of health workers, processes performed, outputs and outcomes achieved. Data were entered into Epi Info 7TM, which was used to generate frequencies and proportions. Qualitative data from checklists and key informants interviews was sorted manually into themes and analysed. Results All 15 health facilities had adequate stocks of HIV test kits and PEP kits. Adequate bins and detergents were found in only 3/15 (20%) of health facilities. All facilities failed to hold a single IPC meeting and none had specific budget for IPC in 2018. No IPC mentorship activities were carried out in the district. Only 7/13 (54%) health workers who had needle pricks received PEP with 2/7 (29%) of them finishing the course. No health facility had a functional HAI surveillance system. The overall knowledge rating was fair. Conclusion The IPC program inputs in Goromonzi district were inadequate hence its failure to achieve the intended outputs and outcomes. Inadequate knowledge, unavailability of health worker training plans, specific budgets and absence of IPC committees reflected non prioritisation of the program.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Zakumumpa

Abstract Background The expanding roles and increasing importance of the nursing workforce in health services delivery in resource-limited settings is not adequately documented and sufficiently recognized in the current literature. Drawing upon the theme of 2020 as the international year of the nurse and midwife, we set out to describe how the role of nurses had expanded tremendously in health facilities in Uganda during the era of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) scale-up between 2004 and 2014.Methods A mixed-methods study was conducted in two phases. Phase One entailed a cross-sectional health facility survey (n=195) to assess the extent to which human resource management strategies (such as task shifting) were common. Phase Two entailed qualitative case-studies of 16 (of the 195) health facilities for an in-depth understanding of the strategies adopted (e.g. nurse-centred HIV care). We adopted a qualitatively-led mixed methods approach whereby core thematic analyses were supported by descriptive statistics.Results We found that nurses were the most represented cadre of health workers involved in the overall leadership of HIV clinics across Uganda. Most of nurse-led HIV clinics were based in rural settings although this trend was fairly even across all settings (rural/urban/peri-urban). A number of health facilities in our sample (n=36) deliberately adopted nurse-led HIV care models. Nurses were empowered to be multi-skilled with a wide range of competencies across the HIV care continuum right from HIV testing to mainstream clinical HIV disease management. In several facilities, nursing cadre were the backbone of ART service delivery. A select number of facilities devised differentiated models of task shifting from physicians to doctors to nurses in which the latter handled patients who were stable on ART.Conclusion Overall, our study reveals a wide expansion in the scope-of-practice of nurses during the initial ART scale-up phase in Uganda. Nurses were thrust in roles of HIV disease management that were traditionally the preserve of medical doctors. Our study underscores the importance of reforming regulatory frameworks governing nursing workforce scope of practice in Uganda such as the need for evolving a policy on task shifting which is currently lacking in Uganda.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rawlance Ndejjo ◽  
Rhoda K. Wanyenze ◽  
Fred Nuwaha ◽  
Hilde Bastiaens ◽  
Geofrey Musinguzi

Abstract Background In low- and middle-income countries, there is an increasing attention towards community approaches to deal with the growing burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, few studies have explored the implementation processes of such interventions to inform their scale up and sustainability. Using the consolidated framework for implementation research (CFIR), we examined the barriers and facilitators influencing the implementation of a community CVD programme led by community health workers (CHWs) in Mukono and Buikwe districts in Uganda. Methods This qualitative study is a process evaluation of an ongoing type II hybrid stepped wedge cluster trial guided by the CFIR. Data for this analysis were collected through regular meetings and focus group discussions (FGDs) conducted during the first cycle (6 months) of intervention implementation. A total of 20 CHWs participated in the implementation programme in 20 villages during the first cycle. Meeting reports and FGD transcripts were analysed following inductive thematic analysis with the aid of Nvivo 12.6 to generate emerging themes and sub-themes and thereafter deductive analysis was used to map themes and sub-themes onto the CFIR domains and constructs. Results The barriers to intervention implementation were the complexity of the intervention (complexity), compatibility with community culture (culture), the lack of an enabling environment for behaviour change (patient needs and resources) and mistrust of CHWs by community members (relative priority). In addition, the low community awareness of CVD (tension for change), competing demands (other personal attributes) and unfavourable policies (external policy and incentives) impeded intervention implementation. On the other hand, facilitators of intervention implementation were availability of inputs and protective equipment (design quality and packaging), training of CHWs (Available resources), working with community structures including leaders and groups (process—opinion leaders), frequent support supervision and engagements (process—formally appointed internal implementation leaders) and access to quality health services (process—champions). Conclusion Using the CFIR, we identified drivers of implementation success or failure for a community CVD prevention programme in a low-income context. These findings are key to inform the design of impactful, scalable and sustainable CHW programmes for non-communicable diseases prevention and control.


Author(s):  
Hailay Gesesew ◽  
Paul Ward ◽  
Kifle Woldemichael ◽  
Lillian Mwanri

Ethiopia’s performance toward the UNAIDS 90-90-90 targets is low. The present study explored interventions to improve delayed HIV care presentation (first 90), poor retention (second 90) and clinical and immunological failure (third 90). We employed a qualitative approach using in-depth interviews with 10 HIV patients, nine health workers, 11 community advocates and five HIV program managers. Ethical approvals were obtained from Australia and Ethiopia. The following were suggested solutions to improve HIV care and treatment to meet the three 90s: (i) strengthening existing programs including collaboration with religious leaders; (ii) implementing new programs such as self-HIV testing, house-to-house HIV testing, community antiretroviral therapy (ART) distribution and teach-test-treat-link strategy; (iii) decentralizing and integrating services such as ART in health post and in private clinics, and integrating HIV care services with mental illness and other non-communicable diseases; and (iv) filling gaps in legislation in issues related with HIV status disclosure and traditional healing practices. In conclusion, the study suggested important solutions for improving delayed HIV care presentation, attrition, and clinical and immunological failure. A program such as the teach-test-treat-link strategy was found to be a cross-cutting intervention to enhance the three 90s. We recommend further nationwide research before implementing the interventions.


2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. e36-e40
Author(s):  
Liana Hwang ◽  
Jesse Raffa ◽  
Michael John Gill

INTRODUCTION: Women account for a growing proportion of HIV infections in Canada. This has implications with respect to prevention, diagnosis and treatment.OBJECTIVE: To describe the female population presenting for HIV care in southern Alberta and to examine the impact of opt-out pregnancy screening.METHODS: A retrospective review of demographic and clinical characteristics of all patients presenting to the Southern Alberta HIV Clinic (SAC) care program from 1982 to 2006, was performed.RESULTS: The proportion of newly diagnosed patients who were female increased from 7.5% before 1998 to 21.5% after 1998. Women were more likely to be from vulnerable populations, such as intravenous drug users (31.3% versus 13.7%, P<0.001), aboriginals/Métis (21.5% versus 8.7%, P<0.001), blacks (28.9% versus 4.9%, P<0.001) and immigrants (36.6% versus 14.7%, P<0.001). Heterosexual intercourse was the main risk factor for HIV acquisition (43.7%). Women were less likely than men to have requested HIV testing (20.9% versus 37.8%, P<0.001). Opt-out pregnancy screening accounted for 12.7% of HIV-positive tests in women, following its introduction in 1998. Of the women diagnosed by pregnancy screening, 62.1% were from HIV-endemic countries. There was an association between reason for testing and CD4 count at presentation; women who requested their HIV test had higher median CD4 counts than those diagnosed because of illness (478 cells/mL, interquartile range [IQR]=370 cells/mL versus 174 cells/mL, IQR=328 cells/mL, P<0.001) or pregnancy screening (478 cells/mL, IQR=370 cells/mL versus 271 cells/mL, IQR=256 cells/mL, P=0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Women were less likely than men to have requested HIV testing and were more likely to be diagnosed by population-based screening methods. Women, especially vulnerable groups, account for a growing number and proportion of newly diagnosed HIV infections in Alberta. The implications of expanded screening in this population merit further consideration.


2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
Ponco Indah Arista Sari ◽  
Agus Sulistyono ◽  
Hari Basuki Notobroto

HIV AIDS is considered as global threat due to the adverse impacts it brings to all sectors. The number of person with HIV-AIDS increases both in men and women. For pregnant women, HIV is not just a threat to the mother but also for the infant, therefore as to prevent the transmission and complication during pregnancy, screening should be made through an HIV test. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the number ofantenatal care and stigmatization on participation of pregnant women for HIV testing after counseling by Health Workers in the working area of Turi Public Health Center, Lamongan. This study applied cross sectional study. The population in this study consisted of 80 pregnant women. Simple random sampling was chosen for Sampling Technique and it was obtained as many as 42 respondents. Data collection was done using a questionnaire and interviews. Data were analyzed using frequency distribution tables and chi square test with significance level of 5% (p = 0.05). The results revealed that from as many as 42 pregnant women who made antenatal visit > 4 times, 100% of these pregnant women did not take HIV test while pregnant women who made only 2–4 times antenatal visit was as many as 16 individuals (64%) took the test, and only one pregnant woman who took the test on the first visit. Pregnant women who did not have the stigmatization, 100% took the HIV test. Statistical analysis showed no correlation between the number of antenatal visits (p = 0.000) and stigmastization (p = 0.000) of pregnant women for HIV testing after counseling by Health Workers. It is necessary to increase the provision of information and education for the pregnant women through health promotion concerning the importance of HIV testing and antenatal visits to the Health Care.Keywords: HIV test, Number of antenatal care, Stigmatization 


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