Factors that influence uptake of assisted partner notification for HIV index testing services among new diagnosed HIV positive adults at Ndirande Health Centre, Blantyre
To achieve first 95 where 95% of PLHIV need to know their status, the Ministry of Health introduced the 2019 Active index testing policy, in which assisted partner notification services (APNS) were chosen as the key innovative and effective strategy to increase HIV case identification. We conduct...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Kamuzu University of Health Sciences
2022
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| Online Access: | http://nkhokwe.kuhes.ac.mw/handle/20.500.12845/629 |
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Add Tag | Summary: | To achieve first 95 where 95% of PLHIV need to know their status, the Ministry of Health
introduced the 2019 Active index testing policy, in which assisted partner notification services
(APNS) were chosen as the key innovative and effective strategy to increase HIV case
identification. We conducted descriptive qualitative research to assess barriers and facilitators to
uptake of APNS among newly diagnosed HIV positive clients at Ndirande Health Centre. The
study used mixed variational sampling. The study sought in-depth opinions and perceptions from
index clients who accepted APNS, partners who either accepted or refused APNS and health care
workers who provide index testing services. Data collection was done through in-depth interviews
and key informant interview guides. Data analysis was done manually using thematic inductive
and deductive analysis. The study results were thematically analysed and presented in the context
of the theoretical framework, the Socio-Ecological Model. The study showed that lack of
knowledge among partners of index clients, wrong physical addresses, non disclosure of results
for fear of intimate partner violence (IPV), lack of provider knowledge, the proximity of the
contact house to the neighbour’s, and the COVID 19 pandemic were the key barriers to uptake of
APNS. Knowledge of APNS, stability of marriage, gender, health care worker training, health
care worker notification, home tracing, and testing were the key facilitating factors to the uptake
of APNS. Sensitisation and demand creation, screening for intimate partner violence, provision of
funds to support home tracing and testing, provider skills training and health care worker
notification approach were the strategies used to increase uptake of APNS.Non-disclosure of HIV
testing results for fear of IPV was the major prohibitive factor to the uptake of APNS. Health care
workers should actively screen and look for IPV, particularly in clients with unstable relationships
and optimize health care worker notification approach which reduces IPV occurrence, support
disclosure, and increase APNS uptake. |
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