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Jere J, Nyondo-Mipando AL. Exploring preferences of market traders of the type and delivery methods of HIV services in Lilongwe, Malawi. AFRICAN JOURNAL OF AIDS RESEARCH 2022; 21:373-384. [DOI: 10.2989/16085906.2022.2145490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James Jere
- Epidemiology and Surveillance Division, Public Health Institute of Malawi, Ministry of Health and Population, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Alinane Linda Nyondo-Mipando
- Department of Health Systems and Policy, School of Global and Public Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
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2
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Chandra DK, Moll AP, Altice FL, Didomizio E, Andrews L, Shenoi SV. Structural barriers to implementing recommended tuberculosis preventive treatment in primary care clinics in rural South Africa. Glob Public Health 2021; 17:555-568. [PMID: 33650939 DOI: 10.1080/17441692.2021.1892793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends tuberculosis preventive treatment (TPT) in people with HIV (PWH), yet implementation remains poor, especially in rural communities. We examined factors influencing TPT initiation in PWH on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in rural South Africa using the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARiHS) framework to identify contextual factors and facilitation strategies to successfully implement TPT. Patient and clinical factors were extracted from medical records at two primary healthcare clinics (PHCs). Among 455 TPT eligible indivdiuals, only 263 (57.8%) initiated TPT. Patient-level characteristics (older age and symptoms of fever or weight loss) were significantly associated with TPT initiation in bivariate analysis, but PHC was the only independent correlate of TPT initiation (aOR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.49-3.38). Clinic-level factors are crucial targets for implementing TPT to reduce the burden of HIV-associated TB. Gaps in knowledge of HCW, staff shortages, and non-integrated HIV/TB services were identified barriers to TPT implementation. Evidence-based strategies for facilitating TPT implementation that might be under-prioritized include ongoing reprioritization, expanding training for primary care providers, and quality improvement strategies (organisational changes, multidisciplinary teams, and monitoring and feedback). Addressing contextual barriers through these facilitation strategies may improve future TPT implementation in this setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Divya K Chandra
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.,University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA
| | | | - Frederick L Altice
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Elizabeth Didomizio
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Laurie Andrews
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Sheela V Shenoi
- Department of Medicine, Section of Infectious Diseases, AIDS Program, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
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Card KG, Sorge J, Klassen B, Higgins R, Tooley L, Ablona A, Jollimore J, Lachowsky NJ. Democratizing Access to Community-Based Survey Findings Through Dynamic Data Visualizations. ARCHIVES OF SEXUAL BEHAVIOR 2021; 50:119-128. [PMID: 32909142 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-020-01806-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
OurStats ( https://www.cbrc.net/ourstats ) is a data visualization dashboard developed by the Community-Based Research Centre (CBRC) to increase access to data from the Sex Now surveys-Canada's largest community-based surveillance study of gay and bisexual men. An evaluation of the OurStats dashboard was conducted using an online survey distributed through the CBRC and Advance Alliance-an alliance of Canada's leading HIV and queer men's health organizations. Since being launched in November 2019 (through December 2019), 350 unique visitors used the OurStats Dashboard (5.8 per day). Based on responses from 10 community partners, all respondents said they would probably/definitely use OurStats again and would probably/definitely recommend it to colleagues; nine felt it was much/somewhat better than traditional academic outputs (e.g., poster presentations, journal articles); and seven felt it was much/somewhat better than traditional knowledge translation outputs (e.g., fliers, posters, and social media posts). Respondents said they would use OurStats to identify needs of gay and bisexual men (n = 9), prepare grant/funding applications (n = 9), prepare presentations about Sex Now data (n = 7), and evaluate the impact of local programs (n = 4). Overall, half felt that OurStats was somewhat/extremely easy to use and half felt that it was somewhat difficult to use. The most commonly identified requested improvement was to provide help documentation that explained how each of the display settings changed the visualizations. From these findings, we conclude that dynamic visualizations for community-based survey data are highly feasible and acceptable, provided appropriate support is available to help community partners use these tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kiffer G Card
- Community Based Research Centre Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada.
- Technology Enterprise Facility 291a, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, V8N 5M8, Canada.
| | - Justin Sorge
- Community Based Research Centre Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Ben Klassen
- Community Based Research Centre Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Rob Higgins
- Community Based Research Centre Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Len Tooley
- Community Based Research Centre Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Aidan Ablona
- Community Based Research Centre Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jody Jollimore
- Community Based Research Centre Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Nathan J Lachowsky
- Community Based Research Centre Society, Vancouver, BC, Canada
- School of Public Health and Social Policy, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada
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Lau B, Duggal P, Ehrhardt S. Epidemiology at a time for unity. Int J Epidemiol 2019; 47:1366-1371. [PMID: 30165517 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyy179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Bryan Lau
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Priya Duggal
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Stephan Ehrhardt
- Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
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Eakle R, Bothma R, Bourne A, Gumede S, Motsosi K, Rees H. "I am still negative": Female sex workers' perspectives on uptake and use of daily pre-exposure prophylaxis for HIV prevention in South Africa. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0212271. [PMID: 30964874 PMCID: PMC6456175 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Women remain highly vulnerable to HIV infection in sub-Saharan Africa, with female sex workers (FSWs) facing some of the highest rates of HIV. Oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has the potential to reduce new infections among populations at highest risk and end-user perspectives of actual use in ‘real-world’ settings are critical to informing PrEP implementation. This paper presents findings from serial in-depth interviews (IDIs) conducted with FSW participants during the course of the Treatment And Prevention for Sex workers (TAPS) Demonstration Project in South Africa, exploring the lived experiences and perceptions of taking up and using PrEP. This research provides insight into risks and responsibilities facing FSWs perceived as prominent drivers in taking up and using PrEP, how PrEP was adopted to mitigate risk or ameliorate realities, and the characteristics of PrEP most valued, all of which are critical to consider in scale-up. Overall, distrust in the existence and/or efficacy of PrEP affected the motivation of women to come to the clinic and to maintain use. As one of the first reports of PrEP use among FSWs outside of a clinical trial setting, this research shows that it will be important to ensure accurate, relevant, and widespread messaging in communities to generate demand and support for PrEP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robyn Eakle
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Department Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: ,
| | - Rutendo Bothma
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Adam Bourne
- Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health & Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Sanele Gumede
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Keneilwe Motsosi
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Helen Rees
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Tilahun B, Smillie K, Bardosh KL, Murray M, Fitzgerald M, Cook V, Poureslami I, Forrest J, Lester R. Identifying Barriers and Facilitators of 13 mHealth Projects in North America and Africa: Protocol for a 5-Year Implementation Science Study. JMIR Res Protoc 2018; 7:e162. [PMID: 29970360 PMCID: PMC6053607 DOI: 10.2196/resprot.9633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2017] [Revised: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although many mHealth interventions have shown efficacy in research, few have been effectively implemented and sustained in real-world health system settings. Despite this programmatic gap, there is limited conclusive evidence identifying the factors that affect the implementation and successful integration of mHealth into a health system. Objective The aim of this study is to examine the individual, organizational, and external level factors associated with the effective implementation of WelTel, an mHealth intervention designed to support outpatient medication adherence and engagement in care in Africa and North America. Methods We will adopt the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) constructs for evaluation of mHealth implementation including a scoring and monitoring system. We will apply the adapted tool to identify facilitators and barriers to implementation of the WelTel mHealth intervention in order to determine how the technology platform is perceived, diffused, adapted, and used by different mHealth project teams and health system actors in Africa and North America. We will use a mixed-methods approach to quantitatively test whether the factors identified in the CFIR framework are associated with the successful uptake of the mHealth intervention toward implementation goals. We will triangulate these data through interviews and focus group discussion with project stakeholders, exploring factors associated with successful implementation and sustainment of these interventions. Results The development of the customized CFIR is finalized and currently is in pilot testing. The initial results of the use of the tool in those 13 implementations will be available in 2019. Continuous conference and peer- reviewed publications will be published in the coming years. Conclusions The results of this study will provide an in-depth understanding of individual, organizational, and external level factors that influence the successful implementation of mHealth in different health systems and geographic contexts over time. Via the tool’s unique scoring system connected to qualitative descriptors, these data will inform the most critical implementation targets and contribute to the tailoring of strategies that will assist the health system in overcoming barriers to implementation, and ultimately, improve treatment adherence and engagement in care. Registered Report Identifier RR1-10.2196/9633
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Affiliation(s)
- Binyam Tilahun
- Division of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.,Department of Health Informatics and eHealthLab Ethiopia, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Kirsten Smillie
- Division of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Kevin Louis Bardosh
- Department of Anthropology, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, United States
| | - Melanie Murray
- Division of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Mark Fitzgerald
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Victoria Cook
- Department of Tuberculosis Control, British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Iraj Poureslami
- Division of Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Jamie Forrest
- Division of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Richard Lester
- Division of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Towards 90-90-90 Target: Factors Influencing Availability, Access, and Utilization of HIV Services-A Qualitative Study in 19 Ugandan Districts. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 2018:9619684. [PMID: 29750175 PMCID: PMC5884295 DOI: 10.1155/2018/9619684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Background UNAIDS has set a new target 90-90-90 by 2020. To achieve this target, current programs need to address challenges that limit access, availability, and utilization of HIV testing and treatment services. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the barriers that influence access, availability, and utilization of HIV services in rural Uganda within the setting of a large donor funded program. Methods We conducted key informant interviews with stakeholders at the district level, staff of existing HIV/AIDS projects, and health facilities in 19 districts. Data were also collected from focus group discussions comprised of clients presenting for HIV care and treatment. Data were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis. Results. Barriers identified were as follows: (1) drug shortages including antiretroviral drugs at health facilities. Some patients were afraid to start ART because of worrying about shortages; (2) distance and (3) staffing shortages; (4) stigma persistence; (5) lack of social and economic support initiatives that enhance retention in treatment. Conclusions In conclusion, our study has identified several factors that influence access, availability, and utilization of HIV services. Programs need to address drug and staff shortages, HIV stigma, and long distances to health facilities to broaden access and utilization in order to realize the UNAIDS target.
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Carvour ML, Chiu A. A Cyclical Approach to Continuum Modeling: A Conceptual Model of Diabetic Foot Care. Front Public Health 2017; 5:337. [PMID: 29276706 PMCID: PMC5727019 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2017.00337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 11/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
“Cascade” or “continuum” models have been developed for a number of diseases and conditions. These models define the desired, successive steps in care for that disease or condition and depict the proportion of the population that has completed each step. These models may be used to compare care across subgroups or populations and to identify and evaluate interventions intended to improve outcomes on the population level. Previous cascade or continuum models have been limited by several factors. These models are best suited to processes with stepwise outcomes—such as screening, diagnosis, and treatment—with a single defined outcome (e.g., treatment or cure) for each member of the population. However, continuum modeling is not well developed for complex processes with non-sequential or recurring steps or those without singular outcomes. As shown here using the example of diabetic foot care, the concept of continuum modeling may be re-envisioned with a cyclical approach. Cyclical continuum modeling may permit incorporation of non-sequential and recurring steps into a single continuum, while recognizing the presence of multiple desirable outcomes within the population. Cyclical models may simultaneously represent the distribution of clinical severity and clinical resource use across a population, thereby extending the benefits of traditional continuum models to complex processes for which population-based monitoring is desired. The models may also support communication with other stakeholders in the process of care, including health care providers and patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martha L Carvour
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States.,Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
| | - Allyssa Chiu
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Preventive Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, United States
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Half the world's population has access to Internet and technologies, and utilization is near-ubiquitous among providers and key populations. Despite being so well connected; identifying, reaching and linking vulnerable populations to HIV clinical services remains a global challenge. This review highlights the emerging online-to-offline (O2O) models, their potential in scaling up services, and evaluating impact, and implications for future research. RECENT FINDINGS Globally, four major types of O2O models have been implemented, primarily in the West and Asia, especially among MSM and transgender women. These models have varying levels of impact in terms of reach, engagement, participation, linkage, and ability to track and monitor participants, and assess outcomes. Those integrated with offline sites enable seamless transition, dramatically reduce the O2O linkage time and demonstrate high linkage success (>73%). O2O models are ideal for at-risk, stigmatized, criminalized populations and for scaling-up biomedical prevention interventions such as preexposure and postexposure prophylaxis. SUMMARY O2O models represent novel and powerful solutions to reverse the pandemic and could help fill significant programmatic gaps in tracking individuals through HIV cascades. Providers, especially in resource-limited settings, could choose between a variety of current approaches highlighted in this review and employ no-cost or cost-effective technologies to transform their traditional models and leverage O2O models.
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Wakida E, Maling S, Obua C. Mbarara University Research Training Initiative: a spin-off of the Medical Education Partnership Initiative in Uganda. ADVANCES IN MEDICAL EDUCATION AND PRACTICE 2017; 8:527-533. [PMID: 28794667 PMCID: PMC5538542 DOI: 10.2147/amep.s138024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Scientific productivity in Africa is insignificant compared to that in the rest of the world. This has been attributed to the fact that, in spite of academic qualifications, junior faculty, who form the majority of academics in low- and middle-income countries lack experience in research. This calls for a need to put in place programs that provide hands-on training in research so that junior faculty can conduct relevant research. The Mbarara University Research Training Initiative, a Fogarty International Center-funded program, is one such program that was developed to provide research capacity training for junior faculty at the Mbarara University of Science and Technology. The program utilizes health priority areas to provide research training to junior faculty. During the training, they are given short-term-focused research training on particular knowledge and skills, which they apply while conducting the mentored research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel Maling
- Department of Psychiatry, Office of the Dean, Faculty of Medicine
| | - Celestino Obua
- Department of Pharmacomology and Therapeutics, Office of the Vice Chancellor, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda
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Asiimwe S, Ross JM, Arinaitwe A, Tumusiime O, Turyamureeba B, Roberts DA, O’Malley G, Barnabas RV. Expanding HIV testing and linkage to care in southwestern Uganda with community health extension workers. J Int AIDS Soc 2017; 20:21633. [PMID: 28770598 PMCID: PMC5577731 DOI: 10.7448/ias.20.5.21633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Achieving the UNAIDS goals of 90-90-90 will require more than doubling the number of people accessing HIV care in Uganda. Community-based programmes for entry into HIV care are effective strategies to expand access to HIV care, but few programmes have been evaluated with a particular focus on scale-up. METHODS Integrated Community Based Initiatives, a Uganda-based non-governmental organization, designed and implemented a programme of community-based HIV counselling and testing and facilitated linkage to care utilizing community health extension workers (CHEWs) in rural Sheema District, Uganda. CHEWs performed programme activities during 1 October 2015 through 31 March 2016. Outcomes for this evaluation were (1) the number of people tested for HIV, and (2) the proportion of those testing positive who were seen at an ART clinic within three months of their positive test, and (3) the cost of the programme per person newly diagnosed with HIV. Microcosting methods were used to calculate the programme costs. Program scalability factors were evaluated using a published framework. RESULTS Sixty-two CHEWs attended a five-day training that introduced the biology of HIV, the conduct of confidential HIV testing, HIV prevention messages, and linkage, referral, and reporting requirements. CHEWs received a $30 monthly stipend and a field testing kit that included a bicycle, field bag, umbrella, gumboots, reporting booklet, pens, and HIV testing materials. Trained CHEWs tested 43,696 persons for HIV infection during the six-month programme period. Nine-hundred seventy-four participants (2.2%) were identified as HIV positive, and 623 participants (64%) were linked to HIV care. An estimated 69% of adult residents received testing as part of this campaign. The programme cost $3.02 per person test, $135.70 per positive person identified, and $212.15 per HIV-positive person linked to care. CONCLUSIONS Lay community health extension workers (CHEWs) can be rapidly trained to scale-up home-based HIV testing and counselling (HTC) and linkage to care in a high-quality and low-cost manner to large numbers of people in a rural, high burden setting. A combination HIV testing approach, such as adding partner testing to community-based testing, could increase the proportion of HIV-positive persons identified.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jennifer M. Ross
- Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ruanne V. Barnabas
- Departments of Global Health, Medicine (Allergy and Infectious Disease), and Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Bukenya D, Wringe A, Moshabela M, Skovdal M, Ssekubugu R, Paparini S, Renju J, McLean E, Bonnington O, Wamoyi J, Seeley J. Where are we now? A multicountry qualitative study to explore access to pre-antiretroviral care services: a precursor to antiretroviral therapy initiation. Sex Transm Infect 2017; 93:sextrans-2016-052970. [PMID: 28615327 PMCID: PMC5739845 DOI: 10.1136/sextrans-2016-052970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2016] [Revised: 04/23/2017] [Accepted: 04/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To explore barriers and facilitators to accessing postdiagnosis HIV care in five sub-Saharan African countries. Methods In-depth interviews were conducted with 77 people living with HIV (PLHIV) in pre-antiretroviral therapy care or not-yet-in care and 46 healthcare workers. Participants were purposely selected from health and demographic surveillance sites in Karonga (Malawi), Manicaland (Zimbabwe), uMkhanyakude (South Africa), Kisesa (Tanzania) and Rakai and Kyamulibwa (Uganda). Thematic content analysis was conducted, guided by the constructs of affordability, availability and acceptability of care.- Results Affordability: Transport and treatment costs were a barrier to HIV care, although some participants travelled to distant clinics to avoid being seen by people who knew them or for specific services. Broken equipment and drug stock-outs in local clinics could also necessitate travel to other facilities. Availability: Some facilities did not offer full HIV care, or only offered all services intermittently. PLHIV who frequently travelled complained that care was seldom available to them in places they visited. Acceptability: Severe pain or sickness was a key driver for accessing postdiagnosis care, whereas asymptomatic PLHIV often delayed care-seeking. A belief in witchcraft was a deterrent to accessing clinical care following diagnosis. Changing antiretroviral therapy guidelines generated uncertainty among PLHIV about when to start treatment and delayed postdiagnosis care. PLHIV reported that healthcare workers’ knowledge, attitudes and behaviours, and their ability to impart health education, also influenced whether they accessed HIV care. Conclusion Despite efforts to decentralise services over the past decade, many barriers to accessing HIV care persist. There is a need to increase sustained access to care for PLHIV not yet on treatment, with initiatives that encompass biomedical aspects of care alongside considerations for individual and collective challenges they faced. A failure to do so may undermine efforts to achieve universal access to antiretroviral therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Bukenya
- Medical Research Council/ Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda
| | - Alison Wringe
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Mosa Moshabela
- Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.,University of KwaZulu Natal, KwaZulu Natal, South Africa
| | - Morten Skovdal
- University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Biomedical Research and Training Institute, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Sara Paparini
- Department of Global Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jenny Renju
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Estelle McLean
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, Karonga, Malawi
| | - Oliver Bonnington
- Department of Global Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Joyce Wamoyi
- National Institute for Medical Research, Mwanza, Tanzania
| | - Janet Seeley
- Medical Research Council/ Uganda Virus Research Institute, Uganda Research Unit on AIDS, Entebbe, Uganda.,Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.,Africa Health Research Institute, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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