The challenges faced by nurses in the implementation of HIV universal test and treat strategy in primary health care clinics in a Kwazulu-Natal District

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to describe the challenges that nurses working in primary health care clinics faced when implementing HIV Universal Test and Treat (UTT) strategy in a KwaZulu-Natal district. The researcher used qualitative study; specifically, a descriptive phenomenological design. The phenomenological research design uses interpretivist methodology to describe the participants’ everyday experiences regarding the implementation of HIV UTT strategy and factors that affect the roll-out thereof. Data collection was done through one-on-one interviews, using a semi-structured interview guide. The researcher conducted the study in two primary health care clinics in one district in KwaZulu-Natal. Participants included professional and enrolled nurses (both female and male nurses) who worked in two primary health care clinics providing health-care services to HIV-positive patients. This study’s focus is to gain an understanding of the challenges faced by nurses who work in primary health care pertaining to the implementation of the HIV UTT strategy and to identify factors that impact on the implementation of the strategy. The study findings can contribute to the effective roll-out of the HIV UTT strategy, which will result in immediate diagnosis and same-day initiation of antiretroviral treatment. This will benefit society by improving treatment outcomes and decreasing morbidity and mortality rates, which will also enable the Department of Health to save costs associated with treating opportunistic infections.