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Publication Details
AFRICAN RESEARCH NEXUS
SHINING A SPOTLIGHT ON AFRICAN RESEARCH
medicine
An assessment of the Zimbabwe ministry of health and child welfare provider initiated HIV testing and counselling programme
BMC Health Services Research, Volume 12, No. 1, Article 131, Year 2012
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Description
Background: Provider-initiated HIV testing and counselling (PITC) is widely recommended to ensure timely treatment of HIV. The Zimbabwe Ministry of Health introduced PITC in 2007. We aimed to evaluate institutional capacity to implement PITC and investigate patient and health care worker (HCW) perceptions of the PITC programme. Methods: Purposive selection of health care institutions was conducted among those providing PITC. Study procedures included 1) assessment of implementation procedures and institutional capacity using a semi-structured questionnaire; 2) in-depth interviews with patients who had been offered HIV testing to explore perceptions of PITC, 3) Focus group discussions with HCW to explore views on PITC. Qualitative data was analysed according to Framework Analysis. Results: Sixteen health care institutions were selected (two central, two provincial, six district hospitals; and six primary care clinics). All institutions at least offered PITC in part. The main challenges which prevented optimum implementation were shortages of staff trained in PITC, HIV rapid testing and counselling; shortages of appropriate counselling space, and, at the time of assessment, shortages of HIV test kits. Both health care workers and patients embraced PITC because they had noticed that it had saved lives through early detection and treatment of HIV. Although health care workers reported an increase in workload as a result of PITC, they felt this was offset by the reduced number of HIV-related admissions and satisfaction of working with healthier clients. Conclusion: PITC has been embraced by patients and health care workers as a life-saving intervention. There is need to address shortages in material, human and structural resources to ensure optimum implementation. © 2012 Sibanda et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.
Authors & Co-Authors
Sibanda, Euphemia Lindelwe
Zimbabwe, Harare
University of Zimbabwe
United Kingdom, London
University College London
Hatzold, Karin
United States, Washington, D.c.
Population Services International
Mugurungi, Owen M.
Zimbabwe, Harare
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Zimbabwe
Ncube, Getrude
Zimbabwe, Harare
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Zimbabwe
Dupwa, Beatrice
Zimbabwe, Harare
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Zimbabwe
Siraha, Pester
United States, Washington, D.c.
Population Services International
Madyira, Lydia Kudakwashe
Zimbabwe, Harare
Ministry of Health and Child Welfare Zimbabwe
Mangwiro, Alexio Z.
United States, Boston
Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc.
Bhattacharya, Gaurav
United States, Boston
Clinton Health Access Initiative, Inc.
Cowan, Frances Mary
Zimbabwe, Harare
University of Zimbabwe
United Kingdom, London
University College London
Statistics
Citations: 22
Authors: 10
Affiliations: 5
Identifiers
Doi:
10.1186/1472-6963-12-131
e-ISSN:
14726963
Research Areas
Health System And Policy
Infectious Diseases
Maternal And Child Health
Study Design
Randomised Control Trial
Study Approach
Qualitative
Study Locations
Zimbabwe