Enrollment and retention of female sex workers in HIV care in health facilities in Mbarara city.
HIV healthcare
Mbarara City
enrollment
female sex workers
retention
Journal
Frontiers in reproductive health
ISSN: 2673-3153
Titre abrégé: Front Reprod Health
Pays: Switzerland
ID NLM: 9918230899006676
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
2022
2022
Historique:
received:
04
11
2022
accepted:
12
12
2022
entrez:
6
2
2023
pubmed:
7
2
2023
medline:
7
2
2023
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
Sex work is a global driver of the HIV epidemic, and the risk of acquiring HIV is 13 times higher for female sex workers (FSWs) compared to the general population. The enrollment and retention of FSWs in HIV care is a challenge and has been a major contributing factor to increased new HIV infections. We conducted a qualitative study among 30 FSWs and 21 healthcare workers (HCWs) working in antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics at the selected three primary health facilities in Mbarara City, Southwestern Uganda. The study participants were enrolled by both purposive and snowball sampling techniques. We obtained informed consent from all the participants, and data were collected using in-depth interviews and thematically analyzed. Three themes emerged as facilitators toward enrollment and retention of FSWs into HIV care, namely, (1) good health living, (2) receptive HCWs and availability of health services, and (3) community outreach services and peer support. The barriers are summarized into four major themes: (1) stigma, community discrimination, and beliefs; (2) social obstacles; (3) adverse effects of ART; and (4) inadequate services at the health facilities. FSWs are challenged by unsupportive environments and communities where they live and work, which hinders their enrollment and retention in HIV care. Creating awareness of the utilization of HIV care services and extending such services to hotspot communities could enhance the response of HIV-positive FSWs to ART.
Sections du résumé
Background
UNASSIGNED
Sex work is a global driver of the HIV epidemic, and the risk of acquiring HIV is 13 times higher for female sex workers (FSWs) compared to the general population. The enrollment and retention of FSWs in HIV care is a challenge and has been a major contributing factor to increased new HIV infections.
Methods
UNASSIGNED
We conducted a qualitative study among 30 FSWs and 21 healthcare workers (HCWs) working in antiretroviral therapy (ART) clinics at the selected three primary health facilities in Mbarara City, Southwestern Uganda. The study participants were enrolled by both purposive and snowball sampling techniques. We obtained informed consent from all the participants, and data were collected using in-depth interviews and thematically analyzed.
Results
UNASSIGNED
Three themes emerged as facilitators toward enrollment and retention of FSWs into HIV care, namely, (1) good health living, (2) receptive HCWs and availability of health services, and (3) community outreach services and peer support. The barriers are summarized into four major themes: (1) stigma, community discrimination, and beliefs; (2) social obstacles; (3) adverse effects of ART; and (4) inadequate services at the health facilities.
Conclusion
UNASSIGNED
FSWs are challenged by unsupportive environments and communities where they live and work, which hinders their enrollment and retention in HIV care. Creating awareness of the utilization of HIV care services and extending such services to hotspot communities could enhance the response of HIV-positive FSWs to ART.
Identifiants
pubmed: 36743824
doi: 10.3389/frph.2022.1089663
pmc: PMC9890177
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Pagination
1089663Informations de copyright
© 2023 Arinaitwe, Ariho, Naturinda, Byoleko, Base, Atwijukiire, Matavu, Kabami, Obua, Wakida and Otwine.
Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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