Browsing by Author "Hausler, Harry"

Now showing 1 - 5 of 5
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    Clinical and immunological response of HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART in Nyangana mission hospital in Namibia
    (2008) Kangudie, Didier Mbayi; Hausler, Harry
    This study aims to analyse the clinical and immunological responses and survival pattern of HIV/AIDS patients receiving ART in Nyangana District
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    Community participation in collaborative tuberculosis and HIV activities including prevention of mother- to- child- transmission (PMTCT): development and evaluation of an intervention to enhance integration of TB/HIV/PMTCT services in a rural area of South Africa
    (University of the Western Cape, 2012) Uwimana, Jeannine; Jackson, Debra; Zarowsky, Christina; Hausler, Harry
    The epidemiological interconnectedness of tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) epidemics is well documented. Although international agencies such as the World Health Organisation (WHO) have been advocating for the implementation of collaborative TB/HIV activities at all levels in order to mitigate the impact of the dual epidemic on communities, health care delivery and programme management, its implementation has been very slow, particularly in countries highly burdened with TB/HIV infection, such as South Africa. Provision of integrated TB/HIV services has been partial and sub-optimal at community level. This requires innovative interventions that go beyond health facility boundaries such as engaging community care workers (CCWs). This thesis presents ways of engaging community members such as CCWs in collaborative TB/HIV activities including prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). Methods: Both action research and health systems strengthening research were used as theoretical frameworks. The study was conducted in three phases which consisted of: a situational analysis; design and implementation of the intervention; and evaluation of the intervention. Mixed method research using both quantitative and qualitative research methods in one study was conducted, and various research designs were used depending on the research questions and the study phases. Results: The findings of Phase I of this study highlight partial integration of TB/HIV/PMTCT services at facility and community levels, and sub-optimal provision of integrated services, particularly at community level where only 10% of TB and HIV patients needing care at community level were supported by CCWs. Most TB-HIV co-infected patients were managed at the primary health care (PHC) clinic level of care, compared to other levels (p<0.05), and less than 50% of PHC clinic staff were trained in TB and HIV management. This phase also indicates poor linkage between facility and CCWs through the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) managing CCWs. In addition, it identifies various health systems barriers that impede the implementation of collaborative TB/HIV/PMTCT activities and involvement of CCWs in the mainstream of the primary health care system. The findings of Phase II and III show that integrating different CCW cadres into one cadre and expanding their scope of practice to provide a comprehensive package of care for TB/HIV/PMTCT is a feasible and an effective intervention to accelerate the implementation of collaborative TB/HIV activities, including PMTCT, at community level. In addition, the findings suggest that up-skilled CCWs contribute significantly to bridging the current service delivery gaps in vertical TB, HIV and PMTCT services by increasing coverage for case finding of TB (38%) and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (40%), PMTCT services (infant feeding, referral for PCR and AZT adherence support) (30%), and TB and antiretroviral treatment (ART) adherence (30%, 28%). The increase in uptake of TB/HIV/PMTCT services was statistically significant (p<0.05). Provision of home-based HIV counseling and testing by CCWs proved to be acceptable and feasible. Of 684 people offered home based HCT, 634 (82%) accepted to be tested and 45 (7%) tested HIV positive. However, other PHC care services such as integrated management of childhood illnesses (IMCI) and referrals to social welfare were poorly provided. Conclusion and Recommendations: The findings indicated that up-skilling CCWs resulted in improvement of CCW's performance in provision of integrated TB/HIV/PMTCT services, particularly for TB and STI symptom screening, HCT, infant feeding counselling and AZT treatment support for PMTCT, and treatment adherence support for TB and ART. However, this study emphasised the need for addressing contextual and health systems issues such as structural, organisational and managerial constraints. There is a need to reorganise the PHC system to ensure that CCWs are integrated as part of the PHC system. Systematic skills building and consistent CCW supervision, with reliable referral and monitoring and evaluation (M&E) systems are required for efficiency and sustainability of any community based intervention. It is also necessary to ensure that other PHC activities, such as referral for social welfare and IMCI, are not compromised when additional activities are added to the CCW care package.
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    Engagement of non-government organisations and community care workers in collaborative TB/HIV activities including prevention of mother to child transmission in South Africa: Opportunities and challenges
    (BMC, 2012) Uwimana, Jeannine; Zarowsky, Christina; Hausler, Harry
    The implementation of collaborative TB/HIV activities may help to mitigate the impact of the dual epidemic on patients and communities. Such implementation requires integrated interventions across facilities and levels of government, and with communities. Engaging Community Care Workers (CCWs) in the delivery of integrated TB/HIV services may enhance universal coverage and treatment outcomes, and address human resource needs in sub-Saharan Africa. Using pre-intervention research in Sisonke district, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa as a case study, we report on three study objectives: (1) to determine the extent of the engagement of NGOs and CCWs in the implementation of collaborative TB/HIV including PMTCT; (2) to identify constraints related to provision of TB/HIV/PMTCT integrated care at community level; and (3) to explore ways of enhancing the engagement of CCWs to provide integrated TB/HIV/PMTCT services. Our mixed method study included facility and NGO audits, a household survey (n = 3867), 33 key informant interviews with provincial, district, facility, and NGO managers, and six CCW and patient focus group discussions.
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    Health system barriers to implementation of collaborative TB and HIV activities including prevention of mother to child transmission in South Africa
    (Wiley-Blackwell, 2012) Uwimana, Jeannine; Jackson, Debra; Hausler, Harry; Zarowsky, Christina
    In South Africa, the control of TB and HIV co-infection remains a major challenge despite the availability of international and national guidelines for integration of TB and HIV services. This study was undertaken in KwaZulu-Natal, one of the provinces most affected by both TB and HIV, to identify and understand managers’ and community care workers’ (CCWs) perceptions of health systems barriers related to the implementation of collaborative TB⁄ HIV activities, including prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV (PMTCT). We conducted 29 in-depth interviews with health managers at provincial, district and facility level and with managers of NGOs involved in TB and HIV care, as well as six focus group discussions with CCWs. Thematic analysis of transcripts revealed a convergence of perspectives on the process and the level of the implementation of policy directives on collaborative TB and HIV activities across all categories of respondents (i.e. province-, district-, facility- and communitybased organizations). The majority of participants felt that the implementation of the policy was insufficiently consultative and that leadership and political will were lacking. The predominant themes related to health systems barriers include challenges related to structure and organisational culture; management, planning and power issues; unequal financing; and human resource capacity and regulatory problems notably relating to scope of practice of nurses and CCWs. Accelerated implementation of collaborative TB⁄ HIV activities including PMTCT will require political will and leadership to address these health systems barriers.
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    HIV/AIDS competent households: Interaction between a health-enabling environment and community-based treatment adherence support for people living with HIV/AIDS in South Africa
    (Public Library of Science, 2016) Masquillier, Caroline; Wouters, Edwin; Mortelmans, Dimitri; van Wyk, Brian Eduard; Hausler, Harry; Van Damme, Wim
    In the context of severe human resource shortages in HIV care, task-shifting and especially community-based support are increasingly being cited as potential means of providing durable care to chronic HIV patients. Socio-ecological theory clearly stipulates that–in all social interventions–the interrelatedness and interdependency between individuals and their immediate social contexts should be taken into account. People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) seldom live in isolation, yet community-based interventions for supporting chronic HIV patients have largely ignored the social contexts in which they are implemented. Research is thus required to investigate such community-based support within its context. The aim of this study is to address this research gap by examining the way in which HIV/ AIDS competence in the household hampers or facilitates community-based treatment adherence support. The data was analyzed carefully in accordance with the Grounded Theory procedures, using Nvivo 10. More specifically, we analyzed field notes from participatory observations conducted during 48 community-based treatment adherence support sessions in townships on the outskirts of Cape Town, transcripts of 32 audio-recorded indepth interviews with PLWHA and transcripts of 4 focus group discussions with 36 community health workers (CHWs). Despite the fact that the CHWs try to present themselves as not being openly associated with HIV/AIDS services, results show that the presence of a CHW is often seen as a marker of the disease. Depending on the HIV/AIDS competence in the household, this association can challenge the patient’s hybrid identity management and his/her attempt to regulate the interference of the household in the disease management. The results deepen our understanding of how the degree of HIV/AIDS competence present in a PLWHA’s household affects the manner in which the CHW can perform his or her job and the associated benefits for the patient and his/her household members. In this respect, a household with a high level of HIV/AIDS competence will be more receptive to treatment adherence support, as the patient is more likely to allow interaction between the CHW and the household. In contrast, in a household which exhibits limited characteristics of HIV/ AIDS competence, interaction with the treatment adherence supporter may be difficult in the beginning. In such a situation, visits from the CHW threaten the hybrid identity management. If the CHWhandles this situation cautiously and the patient–acting as a gate keeper– allows interaction, the CHW may be able to help the household develop towards HIV/AIDS competence. This would have a more added value compared to a household which was more HIV/AIDS competent from the outset. This study indicates that pre-existing dynamics in a patient’s social environment, such as the HIV/AIDS competence of the household, should be taken into account when designing community-based treatment adherence programs in order to provide long-term quality care, treatment and support in the context of human resource shortages.