Failure is not an option: Barriers to HIV treatment adherence in Kampala, Uganda.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Bruser G
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10103613 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Failure is not an option: Barriers to HIV treatment adherence in Kampala, Uganda.
Bruser Gabrielle G Katasi Ritah R Zhang Lily Ziyue LZ Namasinga Miriam M Arts Eric E Kityo Cissy C Luginaah Isaac I
Health & place 20201201
This study seeks to investigate challenges to combined antiretroviral therapy (cART) treatment adherence and treatment outcomes in Kampala, Uganda. Data was collected from a survey administered to two cohorts of patients with human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) receiving care and cART from the Joint Clinical Research Center (JCRC) in Kampala. Cohort I consisted of 93 individuals successfully treated on cART for a period of three years, while Cohort II consisted of 56 individuals who have ...[more]
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Project description:IntroductionPrivate Health Facilities (PHFs), Uganda's main healthcare providers, are indispensable stakeholders in the national tuberculosis (TB) program's efforts to improve TB case notification and combat the epidemic. However, notification rates remain relatively low in PHFs compared to public providers. In this study, we sought to assess facilitators and barriers to TB case notification among private facilities in Kampala Capital City.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study utilizing a mixed-methods approach to assess facilitators and barriers to TB notification in Kampala Capital City between March and July 2022. For the quantitative strand of the study, we interviewed the TB focal persons at 224 PHFs using a structured questionnaire and for the qualitative, we conducted 14 key informant and in-depth interviews with Ministry of Health-Uganda staff, and TB focal persons at the Kampala Division administration level and at the PHFs. The quantitative analysis involved Modified Poisson regression and the qualitative analysis was carried out using thematic analysis to identify the facilitators and barriers to TB case notification.ResultsOf the 224 PHFs surveyed, the majority, 39.3%(88), were facilities in Nakawa division and 55.4% (124) of the respondents were male, with a mean age of 32.6 years (SD = 8.6). We found that the prevalence of TB case notification was significantly lower for facilities in Kawempe (PR 0.16; 95%CI 0.05,0.47) and Nakawa (PR 0.39, 95%CI 0.21,0.73). Notification was lower among facilities that had no guide for TB screening and diagnosis (PR 0.50; 95%CI 0.25,0.97) and among those facilities where training of other health workers at the facility in TB diagnosis was unknown (PR 0.35; 95%CI 0.13,0.93). Qualitative data showed that the main facilitators of TB case notification were: regular engagements between the NTLP and private health providers and, provision of materials and support to conduct case finding, while the main barriers included TB stigma, lack of resources such as TB diagnostic facilities.ConclusionsPHFs in Kampala Capital City are receptive to programmatic TB case notification. However, they need regular supervision and engagement activities to ensure that they have updated knowledge, equipment and funding support to carry out TB case notification according to policy.
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Project description:Background: Trans-women sex workers bear the greatest brunt of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STI). Trans-women are 49 times more at risk of HIV infections compared to the general population. However, they remain underserved and continue to grapple with access to and utilisation of HIV/STI prevention services. This study explored barriers to access and utilisation of HIV/STI prevention services and associated coping mechanisms.Methods: This exploratory qualitative study was conducted among trans-women sex workers in the Greater Kampala Metropolitan area, Uganda. A total of 22 in-depth interviews, 6 key informant interviews and 9 focus group discussions were conducted to obtain data on barriers to access and utilisation of HIV and other STI prevention and care services, and coping strategies of trans-women sex workers. Data were analysed through thematic analysis using a hybrid of inductive and deductive approaches.Results: Individual level barriers to access and utilisation of HIV/STI prevention and care services included internalised stigma and low socio-economic status. Healthcare system barriers included social exclusion and lack of recognition by other key population groups; stigmatisation by some healthcare providers; breach of confidentiality by some healthcare providers; limited hours of operation of some key population-friendly healthcare facilities; discrimination by straight patients and healthcare providers; stockout of STI drugs; inadequate access to well-equipped treatment centres and high cost of drugs. At community level, transphobia hindered access and utilisation of HIV/STI prevention and care services. The coping strategies included use of substitutes such as lotions, avocado or yoghurt to cope with a lack of lubricants. Herbs were used as substitutes for STI drugs, while psychoactive substances were used to cope with stigma and discrimination, and changing the dress code to hide their preferred gender identity.Conclusions: Individual, community and healthcare system barriers hindered access and utilisation of HIV/STI prevention and care services among the trans-women sex workers. There is a need to create an enabling environment in order to enhance access to and utilisation of HIV/STI prevention and care services for trans-women sex workers through sensitisation of healthcare providers, other key population groups and the community at large on the transgender identity.
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Project description:Early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) after HIV diagnosis prevents HIV transmission, progression of HIV to AIDS and improves quality of life. However, little is known about the barriers to timely ART initiation among patients who test HIV positive in settings different from where they will receive HIV treatment, hence are referred in the routine setting. Therefore, we explored the perspectives of people living with HIV on barriers faced to initiate ART following HIV testing and referral for treatment. In this qualitative study, we purposively sampled and enrolled 17 patients attending the Mulago ISS clinic. We selected patients (≥18 years) who previously were received as referrals for HIV treatment and had delayed ART initiation, as ascertained from their records. We conducted in-depth interviews, which were audio recorded, transcribed and translated. We used Atlas.ti version 9 software for data management. Data analysis followed thematic and framework analysis techniques and we adopted the socio-ecological model to categorize final themes. Key themes were found at organizational level including; negative experiences at the place of HIV diagnosis attributed to inadequate counselling and support, unclear communication of HIV-positive results and ambiguous referral procedures; and, long waiting time when patients reached the HIV clinic. At individual level, the themes identified were; immediate denial with late acceptance of HIV-positive results attributed to severe emotional and psychological distress at receiving results, fear of perceived side effects and long duration on ART. At interpersonal level, we found that anticipated and enacted stigma after HIV diagnosis resulted in non-disclosure, discrimination and lack of social support. We found that challenges at entry (during HIV test) and navigation of the HIV care system in addition to individual and interpersonal factors contributed to delayed ART initiation. Interventions during HIV testing would facilitate early ART initiation among patients referred for HIV care.
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