scholarly journals Barriers to HIV service utilisation by people living with HIV in two provinces of Zimbabwe: Results from 2016 baseline assessment

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Taurayi A. Tafuma ◽  
Nyikadzino Mahachi ◽  
Chengetai Dziwa ◽  
Tafara Moga ◽  
Paul Baloyi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Waiting Times ◽  
Male Involvement ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Service Utilisation ◽  
Access To Health Services ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Hiv Services ◽  
Living With Hiv

Background: The emergence of antiretroviral therapy (ART) transformed HIV from a terminal illness to a chronic disease. However, limited access to health services remains one of many barriers to HIV service utilisation by people living with HIV (PLHIV) in low-resource settings. The goal of this study was to describe the barriers to HIV service utilisation in two provinces of Zimbabwe.Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was conducted with PLHIV and village health workers (VHW) in eight districts within the two provinces. Convenience sampling was used to select the participants. This sampling was limited to communities supported by health facilities with more than 500 PLHIV enrolled into HIV care and treatment. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcripts were subjected to thematic content analysis.Results: A total of 22 community focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted. Barriers to using HIV services cited in PLHIV and VHW FGDs were similar. These were categorised as health system-related barriers, which include user fees, long waiting times, lack of confidentiality and negative attitudes by healthcare providers, and lack of consistent community-based HIV services. Community-related barriers cited were stigma and discrimination, food insecurity, distance to facilities and counterproductive messaging from religious sectors. Client-related factors reported were inadequate male involvement in HIV-related activities and defaulting after symptoms improved.Conclusion: Our assessment has indicated that there are several barriers to the utilisation of HIV services by PLHIV in the two provinces of Zimbabwe. As new strategies and programmes are being introduced in the current resource-constrained era, efforts should be made to understand the needs of the clients. If programmes are designed with an effort to address some of these challenges, there is a possibility that countries will quickly achieve the 90-90-90 targets set by The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.

scholarly journals Acceptance and Completion of Rifapentine-based TB Preventive Therapy (3HP) Among People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Kampala, Uganda – Patient and Health Worker Perspectives.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred C. Semitala ◽  
Allan Musinguzi ◽  
Jackie Ssemata ◽  
Fred Welishe ◽  
Juliet Nabunje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Preventive Therapy ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Behavior Change Interventions ◽  
Living With Hiv

Abstract Background: A 12-dose, once-weekly regimen of isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP) is effective in preventing tuberculosis (TB) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). We sought to identify potential barriers to and facilitators of 3HP implementation from the perspective of PLHIV and health workers in a routine HIV care setting in Kampala, Uganda.Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 PLHIV and 10 health workers at an HIV/AIDS clinic in Kampala, Uganda. For both groups, we explored their understanding and interpretations of TB and TB preventive therapy (TPT), and perceptions about social and contextual factors that might influence willingness of PLHIV to initiate and complete 3HP. We analyzed the data using an inductive thematic approach and aligned the emergent themes to the Behavior Change Wheel framework to identify sources of behavior and targeted behavior change interventions.Results: Facilitators for uptake and completion of 3HP among PLHIV were fear of contracting TB, awareness of being potentially at risk of getting TB, willingness to take TPT, trust in health workers, and the perceived benefits of DOT and SAT. Barriers included inadequate understanding of TPT, fear of potential side effects, concerns about effectiveness of 3HP as well as the perceived challenges of DOT or SAT. Among health workers, perceived facilitators included knowledge that TB is a common cause of mortality, fear of getting TB, patient trust in their health workers, potential for once-weekly dosing and the benefits of TPT delivery. Health workers perceived potential barriers for PLHIV as being: inadequate understanding of TB and TPT, TB associated stigma, potential side effects, pill burden and challenges of taking TPT. Additional barriers included a lack of experience among health workers with the use of digital technology to monitor patient care.Conclusions: Using a formative qualitative and comprehensive theoretical approach, we identified key sources of behavior that could be used to guide selection of appropriate intervention to optimize 3HP scale up among PLHIV in high burden settings.

scholarly journals COMPLIANCE WITH ANTIRETROVIRAL THERAPY AMONG MSM AT CLINIC X, JAKARTA

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 137-149
Author(s):  
Lu'lu Nafisah
Keyword(s):  
Antiretroviral Therapy ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Related Factors ◽  
Purposive Sampling ◽  
Education Access ◽  
Work Related ◽  
Aids Progression ◽  
Patient Relationships ◽  
Living With Hiv

Abstrak Latar belakang: Kepatuhan terapeutik di Indonesia masih di bawah 80 persen dan dapat mengakibatkan peningkatan insidensi infeksi usus protozoanal, perkembangan AIDS yang lebih cepat, resistensi obat, kegagalan pengobatan, dan penularan virus ke orang lain. Tujuan: Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk menggambarkan kepatuhan terhadap terapi antiretroviral pada LSL yang mencari pengobatan di klinik swasta dan menyelidiki faktor pendukung dan hambatan untuk retensi ART. Metode: Penelitian ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dan data yang dikumpulkan melalui wawancara mendalam. Subjek penelitian dipilih dengan menggunakan purposive sampling. Data dianalisis menggunakan analisis isi. Hasil: Informan berjumlah 7 orang, 4 ODHA, dan 3 petugas kesehatan. Hasilnya menunjukkan bahwa sebagian besar ODHA patuh dalam menggunakan terapi ARV dan mengikuti saran dokter. Faktor-faktor yang mendukung kepatuhan terhadap terapi ARV meliputi tingkat pendidikan, akses informasi, motivasi internal, hubungan pasien dengan dokter, dan dukungan sosial. Hoax, faktor yang terkait dengan pekerjaan, dan stigma adalah hambatan bagi orang yang hidup dengan HIV dalam mempertahankan kepatuhan terhadap terapi ARV. Kesimpulan: Kepatuhan optimal terhadap terapi ARV perlu dipertahankan dan ditingkatkan karena dinamis dan dipengaruhi oleh berbagai faktor. Intervensi berbasis teknologi direkomendasikan dalam memantau kepatuhan ODHA dalam terapi ARV. Kata Kunci: kepatuhan, terapi antiretroviral, hambatan, LSL, ODHA. Abstract Background: Therapeutic compliance in Indonesia was still below 80 percent and may resulted in increased incidence of protozoanal intestinal infection, faster AIDS progression, drug resistance, treatment failure, and transmission of the virus to others. Objective: The purpose of this study was to describe adherence to antiretroviral therapy among MSM who seek treatment at private clinics and investigate facilitators and barriers to ART retention. Method: This study used qualitative research methods and data collected through in-depth interview. The study subjects were selected using a purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using content analysis. Results: The informants were 7 people include 4 PLWHA and 3 health workers. The results showed that most ODHA were compliant in taking ARV therapy and following doctor's advice. Factors supported adherence to ARV therapy include levels of education, access to information, internal motivation, patient relationships with doctors, and social support. Hoaxes, work related factors, and stigma are barriers to people living with HIV in sustaining ARV therapy adherence. Conclusion: Optimal adherence to ARV therapy needs to be maintained and improved because it is dynamic and influenced by various factors. Technological interventions are recommended in monitoring PLWHA compliance in ARV therapy Keywords: adherence, antiretroviral therapy, barriers, MSM, PLWHA.

scholarly journals Determinants of Sputum Ordering for Tuberculosis Diagnosis in People Living with HIV in the Greater Accra Region, Ghana

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Kasozi ◽  
Philip Govule ◽  
Simon Peter Katongole ◽  
Bismark Sarfo
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Screen Test ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Presumptive Diagnosis ◽  
Treatment Services ◽  
Care And Treatment ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Greater Accra Region ◽  
General Appearance

Abstract BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern, and a leading cause of ill-health and death globally. More so, People living with HIV have been shown to carry an increased risk of developing TB with an estimated one-third of deaths in this population. The World Health Organization recommends systematic and routine screening of PLHIV for TB on every clinic visit and further testing using sputum for those with a positive TB screen test. Not all PLHIV with a positive TB screen test in Ghana are further tested for TB using sputum and the factors for this are not well understood. This study assessed factors associated with sputum ordering for TB diagnosis in PLHIV who were screened positive for TB in three hospitals providing HIV care and treatment services in the Greater Accra region of Ghana.MethodsMixed method study performed at three purposively selected hospitals providing HIV care and treatment services in the Greater Accra region. The study involved a cross sectional review of patients’ charts and in-depth interviews with health workers involved in the care and treatment of PLHIV. Quantitative data was analyzed using STATA version 15. Chi square test was used for bivariate analysis. Logistic regression was used for multivariate analysis. P≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Inductive thematic analysis was used to determine emerging themes from the interviews. The major themes were represented with representative quotations.ResultsFour hundred (400) patient charts were reviewed of which 67.7% were female with median age of 39 (IQR 31-49). TB screening was recorded in 78% (95% CI 73.6, 82.0) of the patients of whom ninety-two (92) patients had a positive TB screen test. Only 53 (57.6%) who had a positive screen test had sputum ordered for further TB testing. In the multivariate analysis, patient general appearance described as abnormal (OR=3.05, p=0.036), having more than one TB symptom (OR=3.42, p=0.028) and presence of an alternative presumptive diagnosis (OR=0.34, p=0.023) were associated with having a sputum test ordered. High patient numbers, inability to produce sputum, unwillingness of the not so sick patients to provide sputum and the costs associated with chest X-ray were perceived as the challenges to further testing for TB.ConclusionTB screening in PLHIV is still lower than recommended and almost half of PLHIV with a positive TB screen test did not have a sputum test documented. Sputum testing was likely to be done in patients with an abnormal general appearance and more than one TB symptom and unlikely in those with an alternative presumptive diagnosis. High workload, costs of TB tests, lack of training for health workers and inability to produce sputum by patients were the barriers to sputum testing highlighted by the health workers.

scholarly journals Acceptance and completion of rifapentine-based TB preventive therapy (3HP) among people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Kampala, Uganda—patient and health worker perspectives

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred C. Semitala ◽  
Allan Musinguzi ◽  
Jackie Ssemata ◽  
Fred Welishe ◽  
Juliet Nabunje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Health Worker ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Preventive Therapy ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Delivery Strategies ◽  
Living With Hiv

Abstract Background A 12-dose, once-weekly regimen of isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP) is effective in preventing tuberculosis (TB) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). We sought to identify potential barriers to and facilitators of acceptance and completion of 3HP treatment from the perspective of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and health workers in a routine HIV care setting in Kampala, Uganda. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 PLHIV and 10 health workers at an HIV/AIDS clinic in Kampala, Uganda. For both groups, we explored their understanding and interpretations of TB and TB preventive therapy (TPT), and perceptions about social and contextual factors that might influence the willingness of PLHIV to initiate and complete 3HP. We analyzed the data using an inductive thematic approach and aligned the emergent themes to the Behavior Change Wheel framework to identify sources of behavior and targeted behavior change interventions. Results Facilitators of acceptance and completion of 3HP treatment among PLHIV were fear of contracting TB, awareness of being at risk of getting TB, willingness to take TPT, trust in health workers, and the perceived benefits of directly observed therapy (DOT) and self-administered therapy (SAT) 3HP delivery strategies. Barriers included inadequate understanding of TPT, fear of potential side effects, concerns about the effectiveness of 3HP, and the perceived challenges of DOT or SAT. Among health workers, perceived facilitators included knowledge that TB is a common cause of mortality for PLHIV, fear of getting TB, and trust in the health workers by PLHIV, the advantages of once-weekly 3HP dosing, and the benefits of DOT and SAT 3HP delivery strategies. Health worker-reported barriers for PLHIV included inadequate understanding of TB and benefits of TPT, TB-associated stigma, potential side effects pill burden, and challenges of DOT and SAT 3HP delivery strategies. Lack of experience in the use of digital technology to monitor patient care was identified as a health worker-specific barrier. Identified intervention functions to address the facilitators or barriers included education, persuasion, environmental restructuring, enablement, and training. Conclusions Using a formative qualitative and comprehensive theoretical approach, we identified key barriers, facilitators, and appropriate interventions, including patient education, enhancing trust, and patient-centered treatment support that could be used to optimize the delivery of 3HP to PLHIV in our setting. These interventions are likely generalizable to other clinical interventions in similar populations in sub-Saharan Africa and other TB high-burden settings.

scholarly journals Acceptance and Completion of Rifapentine-Based TB Preventive Therapy (3HP) Among People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Kampala, Uganda – Patient and health Worker Perspectives.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred C Semitala ◽  
Allan Musinguzi ◽  
Jackie Ssemata ◽  
Fred Welishe ◽  
Juliet Nabunje ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Side Effects ◽  
Behavior Change ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Preventive Therapy ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Potential Barriers ◽  
Living With Hiv

Abstract BackgroundA 12-dose, once-weekly regimen of isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP) is effective in preventing tuberculosis (TB) among people living with HIV (PLHIV). We sought to identify potential barriers to and facilitators of 3HP implementation from the perspective of PLHIV and health workers in a routine HIV care setting in Kampala, Uganda.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 25 PLHIV and 10 health workers at an HIV/AIDS clinic in Kampala, Uganda. For both groups, we explored their understanding and interpretations of TB and TB preventive therapy (TPT), and perceptions about social and contextual factors that might influence willingness of PLHIV to initiate and complete 3HP. We analyzed the data using an inductive thematic approach and aligned the emergent themes to the Behavior Change Wheel framework to identify sources of behavior and targeted behavior change interventions.ResultsFacilitators for uptake and completion of 3HP among PLHIV were fear of contracting TB, awareness of being potentially at risk of getting TB, willingness to take TPT, trust in health workers, and the perceived benefits of DOT and SAT. Barriers included inadequate understanding of TPT, fear of potential side effects, concerns about effectiveness of 3HP as well as the perceived challenges of DOT or SAT. Among health workers, perceived facilitators included knowledge that TB is a common cause of mortality, fear of getting TB, patient trust in their health workers, potential for once-weekly dosing and the benefits of TPT delivery. Health workers perceived potential barriers for PLHIV as being: inadequate understanding of TB and TPT, TB associated stigma, potential side effects, pill burden and challenges of taking TPT. Additional barriers included a lack of experience among health workers with the use of digital technology to monitor patient care.Conclusions Using a formative qualitative and comprehensive theoretical approach, we identified key sources of behavior that could be used to guide selection of appropriate intervention to optimize 3HP scale up among PLHIV in high burden settings.

scholarly journals The GIPA Concept ‘Lost in Transition’

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thandeka Dlamini-Simelane
Keyword(s):  
Health Workers ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Employment Contracts ◽  
Healthcare Settings ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
The Status ◽  
Living With Hiv

AbstractFollowing the call by UNAIDS in 2006 to involve people living with HIV (PLHIV) in treatment programmes, expert clients were recruited to provide services within healthcare settings as volunteers alongside paid health workers. Swazi law requires employment contracts for anyone working in a full-time capacity for three months, complicating the status of expert clients. This article traces the genesis of the volunteer framework used to engage PLHIV in the provision of HIV care in Swaziland and describes how the quest for PLHIV to be involved coupled with donors’ promotion of the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GIPA) principle have together resulted in PLHIV serving as low-cost workers, disempowering the very people GIPA was meant to empower. I call for review of GIPA-based policies and a paradigm shift regarding a non-medically trained cadre of workers in an era of acute health-worker shortages in resource-limited countries hard hit by HIV.

scholarly journals COVID-19 preparedness at health facilities and community service points serving people living with HIV in Sierra Leone

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. e0250236
Author(s):  
Lauren E. Parmley ◽  
Kieran Hartsough ◽  
Oliver Eleeza ◽  
Akopon Bertin ◽  
Bockarie Sesay ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Service Delivery ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Community Service ◽  
Health Facilities ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Health Crisis ◽  
Hiv Services ◽  
Trained Staff ◽  
Living With Hiv

After a decade of civil war and the 2014–2016 West African Ebola outbreak, Sierra Leone now faces the COVID-19 pandemic with a fragile health system. As was demonstrated during Ebola, preparedness is key to limiting a health crisis’ spread and impact on health systems and ensuring continued care for vulnerable populations including people living with HIV (PLHIV). To assess COVID-19 preparedness and inform interventions to ensure continuity of HIV services at health facilities (HFs) and community service points (CSPs), we conducted site readiness assessments in Freetown, the epicenter of COVID-19 in Sierra Leone. Data were collected at nine high-volume HIV HFs and seven CSPs in April 2020, a month after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. CSPs comprised three community drop-in centers providing HIV counseling and testing services as well as HIV prevention services (e.g., condoms and lubricants) for key and priority populations and four community-based support groups serving PLHIV. At the time of assessment, CSPs did not provide antiretroviral therapy (ART) but were considered potential sites for expansion of differentiated service delivery (DSD)—a client-centered approach to HIV care—in the context of COVID-19. Overall, 5/9 HFs had trained staff on use of personal protective equipment (PPE) and prevention of COVID-19 transmission. Most had access to masks (5/9) and gloves (7/9) for management of suspected/confirmed COVID-19 cases, and 4/9 HFs had triage procedures for isolation of suspected cases. Conversely, few CSPs had access to masks (2/7) or gloves (2/7) and no staff were trained on PPE use or COVID-19 transmission. 7/9 HFs had adequate ART stock for multi-month dispensing though few had procedures for (3/9) or had trained staff in providing DSD (2/9). Among CSPs where measures were applicable, 2/4 had procedures for DSD, 1/3 had staff trained on DSD and none had adequate ART stock. Identification of gaps in COVID-19 preparedness is a critical step in providing support for infection control and modified service delivery. Findings from this assessment highlight gaps in COVID-19 preparedness measures at sites supporting PLHIV in Sierra Leone and indicate CSPs may require intensive supervision and training to ensure HIV services are uninterrupted while minimizing COVID-19 risk, especially if used as sites to scale up DSD.

scholarly journals Stigma and discrimination: barriers to the utilisation of a nutritional program in HIV care services in the Tigray region, Ethiopia.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fisaha Tesfay ◽  
Sara Javanparast ◽  
Lillian Mwanri ◽  
Anna Ziersch
Keyword(s):  
Family Members ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Hiv Status ◽  
Hiv Services ◽  
Tigray Region ◽  
Stigma And Discrimination ◽  
Hiv Status Disclosure ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
Status Disclosure

Abstract Background: In Ethiopia, stigmatising attitudes towards people living with HIV have reduced over time due to improved HIV knowledge and the expansion of services. However, HIV stigma and discrimination remain a key challenge and have negative impacts on access to and utilisation of HIV services including nutritional programs. A small number of studies have examined the experience of stigma related to nutritional programs, but this is limited. This study explored HIV status disclosure and experience of stigma related to a nutritional program in HIV care settings in Ethiopia and impacts on nutritional program utilisation. Methods: As part of a larger study, qualitative in-depth interviews were conducted with 20 adults living with HIV, 15 caregivers of children living with HIV and 13 program staff working in the nutritional program in three hospitals in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Framework thematic analysis using NVivo was employed to analyse the data. Results: The study found varying levels of positive HIV status disclosure, depending on who the target of disclosure was. Disclosing to family members was reported to be less problematic by most participants. Despite reported benefits of the nutritional program in terms of improving weight and overall health status, adults and caregivers of children living with HIV revealed experiences of stigma and discrimination that were amplified by enrolment to the nutritional program. This was due to: a) transporting, consuming and disposing of the nutritional support itself, which is associated with HIV in the broader community; b) required increased frequency of visits to HIV services for those enrolled in the nutritional program and associated. Conclusion: There was evidence of concerns about HIV-related stigma and discrimination among individuals enrolled in this program and their family members, which in turn negatively affected the utilisation of the nutritional program. Stigma and discrimination are a source of health inequity and undermine access to the nutritional program. Nutritional programs in HIV care should include strategies to take these concerns into account by mainstreaming stigma prevention and mitigation activities. Further research should be done to identify innovative ways of facilitating social inclusion to mitigate stigma and improve utilisation.

scholarly journals Factors hindering integration of care for non-communicable diseases within HIV care services in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: The perspectives of health workers and people living with HIV

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (8) ◽  
pp. e0254436
Author(s):  
Tausi Haruna ◽  
Magreat Somba ◽  
Hellen Siril ◽  
Gladys Mahiti ◽  
Francis August ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Healthcare Workers ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Communicable Diseases ◽  
Dar Es Salaam ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Integration Of Care ◽  
Non Communicable Diseases ◽  
Care And Treatment ◽  
Living With Hiv

Background Global mortality attributable to non-communicable diseases (NCDs) occurs in more than 36 million people annually with 80% of these deaths occurring in resource limited countries. Among people living with HIV and AIDS (PLHA) studies have reported higher prevalence’s of NCDs compared to the general population but most studies do report a narrow range of NCDs commonly hypertension, diabetes and neoplasms and not all. In addition, there is limited reporting, integration of systematic screening and treatment for all NCDs among PLHA attending care, suggesting the NCD burden among PLHA is likely an underestimate. Little is known about factors facilitating or hindering integration of the care and treatment of NCDs within HIV care and treatment clinics (CTCs) in Tanzania. Objective To explore the perceptions of PLHA and health workers on factors facilitate or hinder the recognition and integration of care for NCDs within CTCs in Dar es Salaam. Methods Inductive content analysis of transcripts from 41 in-depth interviews were conducted with 5 CTC managers (CTC Managers), 9 healthcare providers (DHCP) and 27 people living with HIV (PLHA) attending CTCs and with co-morbid NCDs. Results Four themes emerged; the current situation of services available for care and treatment of NCDs among PLHA in CTCs, experiences of PLHA with co-morbid NCDs with access to care and treatment services for NCDs, facilitators of integrating care and treatment of NCDs within CTCs and perceived barriers for accessing and integration of care and treatment of NCDs within CTCs. Conclusions There was a positive attitude among PLHA and healthcare workers towards integration of NCD services within CTC services. This was enhanced by perceived benefits inherent to the services. Factors hindering integration of NCD care and services included; limited and inconsistent supplies such as screening equipment, medications; insufficient awareness of NCDs within PLHA; lack of adequate training of healthcare workers on management of NCD and treatment costs and payment systems.

scholarly journals Identifying the Gaps in HIV Prevention and Treatment During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol In Press (In Press) ◽  
Author(s):  
Archibong Edem Bassey ◽  
Lotenna Chidubem Olisaeloka ◽  
Yusuff Adebayo Adebisi
Keyword(s):  
Care Delivery ◽  
Disease Status ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
People Living With Hiv ◽  
Snowball Sampling ◽  
Hiv Services ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Living With Hiv ◽  
The Impact

Context: To manage the COVID-19 pandemic, the Nigerian government has introduced travel restrictions to reduce the spread of the virus. However, this measure has caused numerous challenges in the accessibility and availability of HIV services (testing, prevention, and treatment) for patients. This study aimed to examine the delivery of HIV care services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria by analyzing the barriers to HIV care in recent years, weighing the impact of these barriers, and bridging the existing gaps by proposing practical solutions to maintain the patients’ uninterrupted access to HIV services throughout the pandemic. Evidence Acquisition: We searched Google Scholar, PubMed, and Science Direct databases, using the following MESH headings: “HIV”, “COVID-19”, and “Nigeria”. The reviewed articles provided information on gaps and solutions for maintaining HIV services during the COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The selected papers were all written in English, with no time restrictions. Also, further publications were identified from the reference lists of articles and reports via snowball sampling. Results: The collected data in 2018 revealed that 67% of people living with HIV were aware of their disease status. Based on the results, 53% of people living with HIV were on antiretroviral treatment, and 42% of people living with HIV had viral suppression, based on the global 90-90-90 HIV targets. Ten barriers and gaps were identified in different aspects of HIV care delivery (prevention, testing, and treatment), and practical solutions were proposed to provide a more effective approach for ensuring the availability and accessibility of services during pandemics. Conclusions: A unique and inter-sectoral approach is generally needed to address different barriers to the delivery of HIV care services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, funding of HIV care services is critical at this time. Based on the findings, HIV care services (prevention, testing, and treatment programs) cannot be postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak, otherwise Nigeria may face a double pandemic.

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