Perceptions of breastfeeding mothers on factors for retention in HIV care at Thyolo District Hospital, Malawi
Retention in HIV care is the ability to adhere to critical aspects of care, according to health system standards and as prescribed by a health care provider. People on ART are supposed to continue accessing HIV care for life once they are started on ART. However, it has been revealed that most breas...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2021
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| Online Access: | http://nkhokwe.kuhes.ac.mw:8080/handle/20.500.12845/286 |
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Add Tag | Summary: | Retention in HIV care is the ability to adhere to critical aspects of care, according to health system standards and as prescribed by a health care provider. People on ART are supposed to continue accessing HIV care for life once they are started on ART. However, it has been revealed that most breastfeeding mothers stop accessing HIV care after the immediate postpartum period. Consequently, this has an effect on the life of the mother and the child who is being breastfed, as it increases risk of HIV reinfection and HIV transmission to the breastfed baby hence associated consequences. The aim of this study was to explore the barriers and facilitators to retention in HIV care among breastfeeding mothers at Thyolo district hospital. The specific objectives were: To describe the facilitators to retention of breastfeeding mothers in HIV care, to identify the hindrances to retention of breastfeeding mothers in HIV care after 6 weeks postpartum and to identify the expectations of breastfeeding mothers regarding retention in HIV care after HIV diagnosis. The study used qualitative data collection and analysis methodology. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 24 breastfeeding mothers through in-depth interviews. The data were analyzed using thematic analysis. This led to emerging the following themes 1) Improved quality of life, 2) Hospital and family support in HIV care, 3) Hindrances to retention in HIV care and 4) Lifetime commitment to therapy. The study found that breastfeeding mothers were motivated to remain in HIV care despite the hindrances they faced. Therefore this study recommends intense counselling of the breastfeeding mothers in the puerperium to promote retention in HIV care. In conclusion, breastfeeding mothers are retained in HIV care during the breastfeeding period with an aim of improving both maternal and child health. |
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