Factors contributing to non-initiation of ART amongst eligible pre-ART patients in rural clinics in Swaziland

Abstract

AIM The purpose of this study was to explore and describe factors that contribute to the non-initiation of Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) amongst Pre-Antiretroviral Therapy eligible patients and to make recommendations for health care workers to enhance early initiation of pre-ART-eligible patients for primary health care facilities in Swaziland.

METHOD

A qualitative design was applied in rural primary health care (PHC) facilities in the Hhohho region of Swaziland. The target population for this study included nurses who have successfully completed the National Nurse Led Antiretroviral Therapy Initiation in Swaziland (NARTIS) training, and who actively initiated ART to eligible patients in rural PHC facilities. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and field notes. Purposive, convenient sampling was applied. Eleven respondents were interviewed for the study, and data was collected until data saturation was reached. Data from transcripts and field notes was analysed and categorised with thematic analysis through Tesch’s open coding process. RESULTS The study identified the following three predominant themes: 1) systematic enablers of prompt ART initiation, 2) barriers to prompt ART initiation, 3) sources of support. Categories included public health care (PHC) factors, community level factors, the interdependence of the health care system, patient centred barriers, individual patient agency, and NARTIS nurse support. CONCLUSION The recommendations for health care workers that emerged from the study included continued HIV treatment scale-up and decentralisation to grass roots levels, aggressive treatment prioritisation among pre-ART patients, building the capacity of the local health care system and continued research initiatives. It is hoped that recommendations emerging from the findings of this study will have positive implications for programming and practice regarding the initiation of ART for eligible pre-ART patients in Swaziland.