{"title":"Comprehensive Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors, and Associated Factors of HIV/AIDS in Gondar City Public Health Facilities Among HIV Testing and Counselling Service Users, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022; an Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis [Letter].","authors":"Elanda Fikri","doi":"10.2147/HIV.S454593","DOIUrl":"10.2147/HIV.S454593","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":46555,"journal":{"name":"HIV AIDS-Research and Palliative Care","volume":"15 ","pages":"727-728"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-12-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10749166/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139032712","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Comprehensive Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviors, and Associated Factors of HIV/AIDS in Gondar City Public Health Facilities Among HIV Testing and Counselling Service Users, Northwest Ethiopia, 2022; an Ordinal Logistic Regression Analysis.","authors":"Bewuketu Terefe, Masresha Asmare Techane, Nega Tezera Assimamaw","doi":"10.2147/HIV.S441447","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/HIV.S441447","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The primary cause of HIV transmission is a failure to deliver proper HIV/AIDS information, which is a major public health issue in low- and middle-income nations. While global health coverage continues, there is still little understanding of HIV/AIDS in Ethiopia, and there is a data gap. As a result, the aim of this study was to investigate the factors that influence comprehensive HIV/AIDS knowledge among HIV testing and counselling (HTC) service users in Gondar, northwest Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted from June to July 2022. About 423 clients were included. Data on HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitude, and behavior were collected. Stata 17 was used to analyze. A pre-tested questionnaires were used. Using ordinal logistic regression model, variables having p values of 0.2 and <0.05 were chosen as a candidate variable in binary and final model.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The total knowledge, favorable attitude, and good behaviors of HIV/AIDS were approximately 258 (61%), 220 (52%), and 210 (49.5%), respectively. Being male (AOR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.28-3.01), age from 31 to 35 years (AOR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.88-4.18), and above 36 years old (AOR = 2.21, 95% CI = 1.98-3.44), primary (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.67-3.20), and higher education (AOR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.03-3.01), employed (AOR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.09, 3.37), and media exposure (AOR = 2.02, 95% CI = 1.21, 3.61) were factors associated with comprehensive knowledge of HIV/AIDS, respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The study participants' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors regarding HIV/AIDS were rather low. Since HIV/AIDS is still a major public health issue, if the concerned body uses and designs media effectively, encouraging females to attend school, it will have a better chance of combating HIV/AIDS by increasing their knowledge.</p>","PeriodicalId":46555,"journal":{"name":"HIV AIDS-Research and Palliative Care","volume":"15 ","pages":"713-726"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10712675/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138812200","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jenna E Januszka, Emily N Drwiega, Melissa E Badowski
{"title":"Bictegravir/Emtricitabine/Tenofovir Alafenamide for HIV-1: What is the Hidden Potential of This Emerging Treatment?","authors":"Jenna E Januszka, Emily N Drwiega, Melissa E Badowski","doi":"10.2147/HIV.S385877","DOIUrl":"10.2147/HIV.S385877","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bictegravir/emtricitabine/tenofovir alafenamide (B/F/TAF) is a single-tablet antiretroviral therapy regimen. B/F/TAF has become a popular treatment choice because of its small tablet size, high barrier to resistance, favorable tolerability, and limited drug-drug interaction profile. Continued research on B/F/TAF has revealed additional potential for this regimen. This review presents recent literature supporting the use of B/F/TAF as an option for consolidating therapy and maintaining virologic suppression in individuals despite M184V/I mutations. Additionally, children are a unique patient population with limited antiviral options. Standard dose B/F/TAF has demonstrated similar drug exposure in children and adolescents as adults, and low-dose B/F/TAF is approved for children living with HIV greater than two years of age and weighing at least 14 kg. Data supporting this recommendation is described in this review. Finally, despite a lack of prospective data, B/F/TAF may have a role in the future of pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis. This review discusses these discoveries and the continued exploration of the hidden potential of B/F/TAF.</p>","PeriodicalId":46555,"journal":{"name":"HIV AIDS-Research and Palliative Care","volume":"15 ","pages":"705-711"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-11-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10693755/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138483205","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bazghina-Werq Semo, Nnenna A Ezeokafor, Babatunde Oyawola, Cyrus Mugo
{"title":"Effect of Multi-Month Dispensing on Viral Suppression for Newly Enrolled Adolescents and Adults in Northern Nigeria.","authors":"Bazghina-Werq Semo, Nnenna A Ezeokafor, Babatunde Oyawola, Cyrus Mugo","doi":"10.2147/HIV.S432976","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/HIV.S432976","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>We evaluated the effect of multi-month dispensing (MMD) on viral suppression among newly enrolled adolescents and adults with HIV in 11 northern Nigerian states.</p><p><strong>Patients and methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective analysis of longitudinal data from 75 health facilities. We abstracted electronic medical records for patients ≥10 years, initiated on ART April 1, 2019 - June 30, 2021, and with a 6- or 12-month viral load (VL) result. We categorized participants in the MMD group to see if they received antiretroviral treatment (ART) for ≥84 days at any visit within 6 months of ART initiation. We consider cut-offs for viral suppression at 50 copies/mL. The period when the VL was performed was classified as pre-COVID-19 (before April 1, 2020) or during the COVID-19 pandemic. We estimated relative risks (RR) by comparing the unsuppressed proportion of those on MMD to those not on MMD, adjusted for age, gender, and COVID-19 period.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Overall, 19,859 participant records were abstracted. Median age was 33 years, 64% were female, 91% were started on a dolutegravir (DTG)-based regimen, and 65% were on MMD. Overall, 15,259 (77%) participants were followed for ≥6 months, 4136 (27%) had a VL at 6 months and 3640 (24%) had a VL at 12 months after ART initiation. A slightly higher proportion of patients on MMD had undetectable VL levels at 6 months (65% vs 58%) and 12 months (66% vs 62%). In the adjusted analysis, we found no significant differences in undetectable VL at 6 months and 12 months between newly enrolled patients on MMD and those not on MMD. Those on Protease inhibitor-based regimen had 54% lower likelihood of undetectable VL compared to those on DTG-based regimen.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>MMD does not result in poorer viral suppression among newly enrolled patients.</p>","PeriodicalId":46555,"journal":{"name":"HIV AIDS-Research and Palliative Care","volume":"15 ","pages":"697-704"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10658956/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138463493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Isoniazid Preventive Therapy Uptake and Its Effect on Tuberculosis Incidence Among People Living with HIV in Illubabor and Buno Bedelle Zones, South-West Ethiopia, 2022: A Retrospective Cohort Study.","authors":"Gebremeskel Mulatu, Maycas Gembe, Jiregna Chalchisa, Tigist Teklu, Worke Yismaw, Debela Dereje, Habtamu Wondmagegn","doi":"10.2147/HIV.S436787","DOIUrl":"10.2147/HIV.S436787","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of death among human immune deficiency virus (HIV) patients. Based on the 2020 global TB report, Ethiopia was among the 30 high TB and TB/HIV burden countries. This study filled gaps regarding IPT uptake in the study area and representative sample determination for assessing TB incidence and its predictors at public health facilities in Illubabor and Buno Bedelle zones, south-west Ethiopia.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This retrospective cohort study was conducted among people living with HIV (PLHIV) who were on antiretroviral therapy (ART) at public health facilities in Illubabor and Buno Bedelle zones, south-west Ethiopia. Both isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) exposed and unexposed PLHIV were followed from the date of ART initiation until the date of TB diagnosis of the most recent visit prior to the end of follow-up. The Cox proportional hazard model was employed to identify variables that predicted the incidence of TB at a P value of <0.05.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Data were collected on 421 PLHIV, with a response rate of 97.4%. The median (interquartile range (IQR)) age of the study participants was 32 (28-40) year. The incidence rate of pulmonary TB was 3.1 per 1000 person-months (95% CI: 2.4-3.9). The incidence rate of TB among IPT-exposed PLHIV was 1.45 per 1000 person-months, but it was 6.2 per 1000 person-months in the unexposed group. Patient's residence, IPT exposure, baseline ART adherence, baseline hemoglobin level, baseline CD4+ cell, recent hemoglobin level, recent CD4+ cell, recent BMI, and recent WHO HIV clinical stage were independently associated with the incidence of TB.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Healthcare professionals working in ART clinics should routinely assess HIV-positive individuals for changes in clinical indicators and environmental exposures like living conditions, which will help HIV-positive individuals in reducing their risk for TB. Likewise, patients attending ART clinics should receive counseling on a regular basis.</p>","PeriodicalId":46555,"journal":{"name":"HIV AIDS-Research and Palliative Care","volume":"15 ","pages":"649-662"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10637256/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89721592","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Clinical Assessment and Management in Improving the Quality of Life of HIV/AIDS Patients with Oral Candidiasis: A Case Series","authors":"Yessy Novianti, Irna Sufiawati","doi":"10.2147/hiv.s434175","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/hiv.s434175","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Oral candidiasis is the most prevalent opportunistic infection in patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), impacting their quality of life. This report aims to emphasize the importance of clinical assessment and management of HIV/AIDS patients with oral candidiasis to improve their quality of life. Case: Five male patients, aged between 32 and 71 years, came to the HIV clinic and complained of white plaques in their mouths and painful swallowing. The World Health Organization’s (WHO) clinical staging of all patients was 4. Three patients had not yet received antiretroviral therapy (ART), and their total lymphocyte counts (TLC) of < 1.170 cells/mm 3 . Two patients had dropped out of ART with CD4 counts were < 40 cells/mm 3 . The body mass index of two patients was underweight, while the others were normal. The oral hygiene index simplified (OHI-S) of the patients was fair to poor. The quality of life assessment using the oral health impact profile 14 (OHIP-14) questionnaires before therapy showed values from 6– 20. Clinical examination defined the diagnosis as oral candidiasis, exfoliative cheilitis, oral hairy leukoplakia, and a cytomegalovirus-related ulcer. Case Management: The patients were treated with fluconazole, 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate mouthwash, 2% miconazole cream, diphenhydramine, and multivitamins. The oral lesions were improved within 14 days to a month of treatment, and OHIP-14 scores were significantly reduced (0– 3). Conclusion: Clinical assessment is important in managing HIV/AIDS patients with oral candidiasis, which improves the patient’s quality of life. Therefore, routine clinical assessment and management of HIV/AIDS patients are strongly recommended. Keywords: AIDS, HIV, oral candidiasis, quality of life","PeriodicalId":46555,"journal":{"name":"HIV AIDS-Research and Palliative Care","volume":"13 3","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135764209","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Quality of Life of People Living with HIV on Antiretroviral Therapy: A Cross-Sectional Study in Monastir, Tunisia","authors":"Latifa Berrezouga, Ikbel Kooli, Wafa Marrakchi, Ghaya Harzallah, Mohamed Chakroun","doi":"10.2147/hiv.s430376","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/hiv.s430376","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: Despite the benefits of an efficient antiretroviral therapy (ART), HIV/AIDS epidemic still represents the most seriousaffection worldwide that negatively impacts people’s quality of life (QoL). As no studies exist on QoL in Tunisia, the aim of the present work was i: to assess, based on WHOQOL-HIV BREF tool, the perception of QoL of people living with HIV (PLHIV) receiving ART and ii: to investigate the relationship between socio-demographic features, disease-related variables and QoL domains’ mean scores. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the department of infectious diseases of F. Bourguiba Teaching Hospital in Monastir, Tunisia. One hundred and five participants receiving ART were involved. QoL assessment was based on the WHOQOL-HIV Bref including six domains with 29 items with scores ranged from the lowest (4) to the highest (20). Results were reported as frequencies and means (±SD). The Student’s t -test for independent samples and the one-way ANOVA were performed to assess differences in QoL mean scores. Linear regression analysis was used to investigate predictors of QoL. The confidence interval was set at 95%. Results: Clients’ mean age was 39.20± 10.18 years old with a male to female sex ratio of 3.12. Low mean scores were seen with the environment (12.34± 2.90), social relations (12.58± 3.94) and psychological domains (12.76± 3.31), and moderate mean scores were noted for the physical (14.11± 3.52), the spiritual (14.05± 3.78) and the level of independence (13.98± 3.57) domains. Regression analysis showed that health status and feeling healthy were related to all QoL domains and that profession, marital status and the presence of a confident person were related to environment and spiritual domains. Conclusion: QoL of PLHIV on ART is affected. Concrete measures and strategies should be undertaken by healthcare stakeholders to improve QoL determinants. Keywords: people living with HIV, WHO quality of life, Tunisia","PeriodicalId":46555,"journal":{"name":"HIV AIDS-Research and Palliative Care","volume":"21 5","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135615374","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Habakkuk Yumo, Jackson Jr Ndenkeh, Marcus Beissner
{"title":"The Positive Impact of Foods Support on Loss to Follow Up Among Children and Adolescents on HIV Antiretroviral Therapy in a District Hospital in East Cameroon","authors":"Habakkuk Yumo, Jackson Jr Ndenkeh, Marcus Beissner","doi":"10.2147/hiv.s417852","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/hiv.s417852","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction: The pediatric HIV treatment coverage in Cameroon remains low at 35%. The high loss to follow up (LTFU) remains a major factor to this dismal performance which is related to the lack of implementation of effective interventions to improve retention in care. This study assessed the impact of foods support (FS) on LTFU among children and adolescents in a rural district hospital in eastern Cameroon. Methods: This was a retro-prospective study conducted in Abong Mbang District Hospital (ADH) in the East Region of Cameroon. We provided foods kits to children and adolescents initiated on antiretroviral therapy (ART) in this facility during the study and followed them up prospectively (prospective phase). On the other hand, using medical records, we collected retrospectively data for children and adolescents who enrolled on ART in the hospital prior to the study (retrospective phase). We then compared the proportions of children and adolescents LTFU before (no FS) and after (with FS) the study, using the Fisher’s exact test, logistic regression, Kaplan–Meier survival curves and Cox proportional-hazards model at 5% significant level. Results: We found that with FS, the proportion of children and adolescents LTFU was 11 times lower (2.4% vs 26.7%, p =0.014), the mean time of retention in care was 30% higher (17 months vs 12 months, p < 0.001) and children and adolescents who did not receive FS were 10 times more likely to be LTFU [aHR=10.3 (4.0– 26.2), p < 0.001)]. Conclusion: Foods support is an effective intervention in reducing LTFU among children and adolescents on ART. This intervention should be adequately funded to enable a large-scale implementation in the field. This could help to improve the outcome of pediatric ART coverage in resource-limited settings. Keywords: HIV care, foods assistance, foods support, loss to follow up, retention, children, adolescents","PeriodicalId":46555,"journal":{"name":"HIV AIDS-Research and Palliative Care","volume":"156 3-6","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135614474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Jaiberth Antonio Cardona-Arias, Nicole Nahomy Narváez Moreno, Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez
{"title":"HIV in Three Groups of Young People from Medellín: General Population, Organizations for People with Socioeconomic Vulnerability, and Men Who Have Sex with Other Men.","authors":"Jaiberth Antonio Cardona-Arias, Nicole Nahomy Narváez Moreno, Luis Felipe Higuita-Gutiérrez","doi":"10.2147/HIV.S434036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.2147/HIV.S434036","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>In Colombia, there are no studies that analyze the effect of socioeconomic vulnerability and belonging to the group of men who have sex with other men (MSM) on the prevalence of HIV in young people.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>To compare the prevalence of HIV in three groups of young people from Medellín-Colombia: general population, socioeconomic vulnerability and MSM.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This cross-sectional analytical study included 2449 young people from the general population, 1736 from institutions that serve young people in situations of socioeconomic vulnerability, and 2269 MSM. The prevalence of infection in each group was determined, statistical differences were identified using Pearson's Chi-square and Trend's Chi-square, and crude and adjusted odds ratios were estimated using logistic regression with 95% confidence intervals. Analyses were performed in SPSS 29.0.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>HIV prevalence was 0.8% in the general population group, 1.3% in young people with socioeconomic vulnerability, and 5.6% in MSM. The groups with the highest HIV were as follows: (i) in MSM it was 4.1 compared to the general population, (ii) between 25-28 years of age it was 2.9 times compared to those under 20 years, (iii) in men it was 10 times that registered in women, (iv) in young people with primary, secondary, technical and university studies it was 7.1; 6.7; 11.0 and 14.5 times that found in those who did not register studies, (v) in affiliates of the subsidized health regime it was 2.2 times and in those without affiliation 2.4 times compared to the infection in affiliates of the contributory health regime.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>HIV prevalence was high, and explained by socioeconomic vulnerability, having sex between men, gender, age, education, and health affiliation, demonstrating the intersectionality of determinants of the health system, socioeconomic status, and determinants individuals in the occurrence of HIV in young people in Medellín.</p>","PeriodicalId":46555,"journal":{"name":"HIV AIDS-Research and Palliative Care","volume":"15 ","pages":"641-648"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10625778/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"71487268","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
David Oyet, Vallence Niyonzima, Gideon Akol, Emmanuel Onyait, Daphine Twinomugisha, Doreen Kawala Wambera, Edith K Wakida, Celestino Obua
{"title":"Barriers and Facilitators to Utilization of Community Drug Distribution Points Among People Living with HIV in Bushenyi District, South-Western Uganda: A Qualitative Study.","authors":"David Oyet, Vallence Niyonzima, Gideon Akol, Emmanuel Onyait, Daphine Twinomugisha, Doreen Kawala Wambera, Edith K Wakida, Celestino Obua","doi":"10.2147/HIV.S422040","DOIUrl":"10.2147/HIV.S422040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Introduction: </strong>People living with HIV (PLHIV) still have challenges in accessing HIV services in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC). In Uganda, community drug distribution points (CDDPs) are part of interventions to improve access to anti-retroviral medications. However, there is still low enrollment in CDDPs among PLHIV in south-western Uganda, particularly in Bushenyi district. This study explored the barriers and facilitators to the utilization of CDDPs among PLHIV.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a descriptive qualitative study utilizing a qualitative approach. We purposively recruited 24 PLHIV and 6 Primary healthcare providers as key informants. We conducted in-depth interviews with PLHIV and key informant interviews with Primary healthcare providers using an interview guide. The audio recordings were transcribed verbatim to Rukiga-Runyankore and then translated into English. Data were coded and analyzed using thematic analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Seven themes were developed describing drivers for the utilization of CDDPs. These were broadly categorized into facilitators and barriers. The main facilitators of the utilization of CDDPs were peer support, positive Primary healthcare providers' attitudes, satisfaction with HIV services, and accessibility of ART services. The main barriers were stigma, lack of physical infrastructure, and lack of comprehensive services.</p><p><strong>Conclusion and recommendation: </strong>Utilization of CDDPs is facilitated by accessibility and Primary healthcare providers' attitude. Stigma is still a limitation to the utilization of HIV services. We recommend that Ministry of Health and other development partners should improve physical infrastructural facilities at the CDDP sites so that the privacy and confidentiality of the PLHIV are protected. Focus on interventions to eliminate stigma by Primary healthcare providers and other stakeholders at CDDP sites is urgently needed.</p>","PeriodicalId":46555,"journal":{"name":"HIV AIDS-Research and Palliative Care","volume":"15 ","pages":"633-640"},"PeriodicalIF":1.5,"publicationDate":"2023-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/pmc/oa_pdf/44/42/hiv-15-633.PMC10588743.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"49692966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}