Factors Affecting Enrollment into Care of Newly Diagnosed Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) Patients:

Abstract

Introduction The purpose of the study was to explore the factors affecting enrollment into care of newly diagnosed HIV patients in Mulago ISS clinic an adult HIV care centre. Specific factors like personal factor, health worker related factors and institutional factors were examined. The sole purpose of conducting this study in this particular area was to give recommendations to the stake holders, management and health workers on how to handle new patients and enroll them into HIV care. Methodology The study adopted a cross-sectional research design. Quantitative and qualitative approaches of data collection were employed. A total of 103 respondents constituted the sample size of the study. These included all those new patients who had reported for enrollment but had missed their appointment. A focus group discussion of 10 health workers was also used to generate qualitative data. Results The primary outcome of the study was time to enroll into care of newly diagnosed HIV patients and majority (75.73%) enrolled within three months of having an HIV positive result although this did not meet the WHO requirement of 85%. Personal factors like lack of transport and fears (48.54%), being very sick (20.39%) dominated the study as some of the factors affecting enrollment into care. Health worker related factors like bad experience on the first day (10.68%) and lack of proper explanations to the patient determined ones’ ability to return for enrollment. Conclusion. The striking but not shocking findings in this study were that if a patient was helped to access care and treatment centre in any way like being directed well or being escorted, he/she was more likely to report to the centre within the recommended time of 3 months and below. Health workers should therefore capitalize on such small inputs to get every patient into treatment and care programs.