Africa Health Knowledge Management Portal
Informing Health Decisions and Actions
Experiences and perceptions of health professionals towards the quality of care for people living with HIV in Tunisia: a qualitative study
Description
Abstract
Introduction: human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
infection continues to be a public health issue,
especially in low- and middle-income countries,
including Tunisia. In 2020, 32% of people living with
HIV were on treatment. Management of HIV
infection remains a real challenge for both patients
and care providers. Our study aimed to describe the
perceptions and attitudes of health professionals
toward care for people living with HIV (PLHIV).
Methods: a qualitative study was carried out
between 2020 and 2021. Interviews with key
informants were conducted in order to identify the
strengths and weaknesses of the care for PLHIV, as
well as their suggestions for improvement. Eight
key informants in HIV care from different profiles
were interviewed: healthcare providers from a
specialized university hospital, the Ministry of
Health, and civil society representatives working in
the field of HIV. Interviews were transcribed and
analyzed thematically using "QDA Miner" software.
Results: the frequency of PLHIV who have
interrupted medical follow-up was perceived as
worrisome, and increasing. Along with individual
factors, non-adherence to treatment was also
attributed to systemic factors related to stock
shortages, geographical inaccessibility, and
shortfall in human resources. Stigmatization of
PLHIV in healthcare facilities outside the specialized
hospital was also highlighted. This has been linked
to gaps in the training of care providers on the
modes of the virus transmission. Conclusion: health
professionals face many challenges in the care of
PLHIV. There is an urgent need to improve
treatment availability and accessibility, strengthen
social assistance for PLHIV and fight against
stigmatization, especially in healthcare settings.