A Case Study on the Community ART Group Model of Care: Does It work for People Living with HIV and Healthcare Service Providers in Lesotho-Reference-Cited by-同舟云学术

A Case Study on the Community ART Group Model of Care: Does It work for People Living with HIV and Healthcare Service Providers in Lesotho

Published:2024-07-31 Issue:4 Volume:13 Page:77-85
ISSN:2328-5753
Container-title:American Journal of Nursing Science
language:en
Short-container-title:AJNS

Author:

Tsehloane Setungoane¹^ORCID,Nyangu Isabel²^ORCID

Affiliation:

1. Health, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Maseru, Lesotho

2. School of Health and Social Care, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Abstract

The Community ART Group (CAG) model is a community-led model implemented to support people living with HIV to address barriers to HIV treatment continuity which remain a challenge in Lesotho. This study sought to explore the perspectives of people living with HIV and that of the healthcare service providers, regarding the CAG model in selected health facilities in Lesotho. An explorative descriptive qualitative study was conducted among purposively selected 20 people living with HIV and 8 healthcare service providers at 3 healthcare facilities. Qualitative data were collected through face-to-face in-depth interviews using semi-structured interview guides. All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis was used following an inductive approach and sub-themes and themes were developed. The CAG model was relevant and acceptable to most of the respondents. They felt that it provided support to people living with HIV, promoted good adherence to treatment, improved treatment access, reduced transport costs, saved time, and reduced stigma. Good retention, favorable clinical outcomes and decongestion of health facilities were identified as key achievements linked to the CAG model. Age, proximity to the health facilities, readiness to disclose positive HIV status, availability of a variety of differentiated service delivery models, family support, and the level of trust emerged as factors affecting the acceptability of the model. Conflicts arising among members of the groups compromised service delivery quality and insufficient resources emerged as challenges. The results confirmed that the Community ART Group model can deliver intended peer-led support to People Living with HIV, resulting in the achievement of favorable clinical outcomes. It is therefore recommendable to consider investing in this community-led model for a sustained HIV response in the country.

Publisher

Science Publishing Group

Link

https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/j.ajns.20241304.12

Reference16 articles.

1. WHO, 2021. “Updated Recommendations on service delivery for the treatment and care of People Living with HIV.” Geneva: World Health Organization, pp. xi – 16. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240023581 [Accessed 16 October 2021].

2. LEPHIA Survey., 2020. Preliminary Report. Maseru: U.S. Embassy Lesotho Available from: https://ls.usembassy.gov/lesotho-makes-substantial-progress-towards-hivaids-epidemic/ [accessed on 01 August 2021].

3. Kuchukhidze, S., Long. L., Pascoe, S. and Nichols, B., et al., 2019. “Differentiated models of service delivery for antiretroviral treatment of HIV in sub-Saharan Africa: a rapid review protocol”. Systematic Reviews. 8(314). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13643-019-1210-6 [Accessed on 6 October 2022].

4. UNAIDS, 2020. “Global information and education on HIV and AIDS. HIV and AIDS in Lesotho”. Available: https://www.avert.org/professionals/hiv-around-world/sub-saharan-africa/lesotho [Accessed on 24 August 2021].

5. UNICEF & WORLD BANK, 2017. Lesotho: public health sector expenditure review. Washington D. C: World Bank Group. Available from: http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/311321517929746662/Lesotho-public-health-sector-expenditure-review [Accessed 10 February 2023].