Introduction: The human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) has long affected millions of individuals across the globe. Historically, the prevalence of this disease is particularly noted within the African continent. Before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic, many African countries struggled to effectively manage the increasing burden associated with HIV/AIDS. There is now a need to reassess this in a COVID‐19 pandemic context so that the impact of COVID‐19 on HIV/AIDS healthcare within Africa can be adequately evaluated. Methods: Data collection was performed on the PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE and Embase bibliographical databases with a predefined search strategy. Searches were performed in blind duplicate and all articles considering COVID‐19 and HIV/AIDS within African healthcare were considered. Results: The COVID‐19 pandemic has severely exacerbated the many issues surrounding HIV/AIDS care within many African countries. These impacts are noticeable in medical, psychological, and socio‐political contexts. Conclusions: Before efforts are made to improve the provision of HIV/AIDS and COVID‐19 care within Africa, it is important that this issue is brought to the attention of the scientific and clinical community so that the continent can receive the necessary support and aid.
Background: The community client-led ART delivery groups (CCLADs) was introduced as one of the strategies to better serve individual needs and reduce unnecessary burdens on the health system. However, no study has comprehensively explained what are the drivers and barriers of CCLADs in improving treatment outcomes. This study sought to assess the barriers and facilitators of ART adherence among HIV positive patients attending CCLADs at Lira Regional Referral Hospital (LRRH), Lira District.Method: We employed a mixed methodology involving 150 study participants between July to August 2020. Quantitative data was obtained from all the participants that were picked through systematic random sampling using a semi-structured questionnaire. Data was entered into SPSS version 23.0 and analyzed at 95% level of significance. We conducted 25 in-depth interviews guided by a checklist. Qualitative data was analyzed through thematic content analysis of major themes that emerged from participants’ responses.Results: Our study found that majority 94.7% (142/150) of the respondents had an optimal adherence (100%) calculated retrospectively based on a 4-day pill uptake recall. In addition, 39.3% (59/150) of participants in CCLADs at LRRH had missed taking a pill in a period of at least 4 weeks. Among all the 104 respondents that had ever missed a medication, the most frequent reason (35% (35/104)) for missing a medication was travelling far away.From qualitative data, social support, patient self-motivation, health education and counselling and guidance were the major facilitators to adherence. On the other hand, lack of food, stigma, forgetfulness, stress, unfair hospital staffs and cultural beliefs were the major perceived barriers to ART adherence.Conclusion/recommendation: Good adherence was attributed to availability of ART at the clinic and an efficient delivery strategy. More health care follow up interventions should be designed to ensure total pill uptake by PLWHIV in communities.
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