Strategies to strengthen referral and linkage system of HIV positive clients in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: HIV referral and linkage system in many countries in general and in Ethiopia in particular was poorly characterised by low linkage rate. The purpose of this study was to analyses factors associated with poor referral and linkage system and develop strategies to improve the system. Methods: A sequential mixed method approach using exploratory descriptive study design was employed. The study was conducted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and it was conducted in two phases. Phase I involved data collection and analysis as evidence for the development of strategies while phase II was the development of strategies. For phase I, data were collected in steps 1 and 2 using individual interviews and focus group discussions respectively. The study participants were programme owners and partners who were supporting facilities during the data collection period in step 1 and health care providers in step 2. A total of 4 individual interviews and 3 FGDs were conducted with purposively selected participants. Data were analysed using computer assisted software called OpenCode version 4.2. Results: The findings revealed five themes namely, issues of referral and linkage practice, ensuring linkage through communication, issues of health care, issues of health care system and issues of partnerships and Health Bureau. Many gaps that affected the referral system were identified and in phase II, nine strategies were developed to strengthen the referral and linkage system. Conclusion:The results of this study highlighted weaknesses in the referral and linkage system of the HIV positive clients from counselling and testing services to chronic care and proposed strategies to strengthen those weaknesses. Measures to operationalise those strategies are also proposed. The successful implementation of the proposed strategies depends on the support of the ministry of health and regional bureau in terms of resources and the readiness of the health care providers to adhere to the proposed measures. Intervention research is needed to test the effectiveness of the proposed strategies.