Factors facilitating trained NIMART nurses’ adherence to treatment guidelines: A vital matter in the management of TB/HIV treatment in South Africa

Abstract

Background: Globally the burden of tuberculosis or human immunodeficiency virus (TB/HIV) is at 24% with 3% global health workforce and this an alarming rate that World Health Organization (WHO) declared African region as a critical workforce shortage area. To facilitate adherence to treatment guidelines, WHO recommended a strategy of task shifting for these countries with high health workforce shortages. The strategy aimed at the redistribution of health care tasks to available workers. The purpose of the study was to determine factors facilitating trained nurse-initiated management of antiretroviral therapy (NIMART) nurses’ adherence to TB/HIV treatment guidelines in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) and North West (NW) Provinces of South Africa.Design: The study was qualitative, explorative and descriptive in nature. The population comprised of 24 participants who were purposively selected. The in-depth focus group discussion was conducted. Data analysis was through the used of ATLAS T.I. software program (version 7.0) and followed the basic steps of notice-collect-think (NCT) analysis. Trustworthiness and ethical consideration were ensured.Results: The following one theme namely; marked identified needs to be met to promote adherence to treatment guidelines and sub-themes emerged from raw data: Expected positive attitudinal needs outlined and an outline of a positive behavioural change. Conclusion: Factors such as continuous training, support supervision and improved relationships with colleagues need to be enhanced to enable NIMART nurses to adhere to treatment guideline.

Factors facilitating trained NIMART nurses’ adherence to treatment guidelines: a vital matter in the management of TB/HIV treatment in South Africa

“…A qualitative approach was employed for this study using an exploratory-descriptive design to explore and describe the phenomenon of interest through eliciting the viewpoints of people most affected [ 24 – 26 ]. Systematic random sampling was used to select the sixteen facilities which comprised of eight Community Health Centres (CHCs) and eight Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities from KZN and NW provinces respectively.…”

“…Systematic random sampling was used to select the sixteen facilities which comprised of eight Community Health Centres (CHCs) and eight Primary Health Care (PHC) facilities from KZN and NW provinces respectively. The population comprised of all NIMART trained nurses in KZN and NW Provinces of South Africa who initiate and manage ART and anti-TB treatment [ 24 , 26 ]. The researchers employed convenience sampling to sample NIMART trained nurses who had 12 months and more working in CHCs or PHCs, accredited to provide ART services [ 24 , 26 ].…”

“…The population comprised of all NIMART trained nurses in KZN and NW Provinces of South Africa who initiate and manage ART and anti-TB treatment [ 24 , 26 ]. The researchers employed convenience sampling to sample NIMART trained nurses who had 12 months and more working in CHCs or PHCs, accredited to provide ART services [ 24 , 26 ]. All CHC and PHC NIMART trained nurses were recruited to participate and only 24 of them agreed to participate in the study.…”

“…All CHC and PHC NIMART trained nurses were recruited to participate and only 24 of them agreed to participate in the study. The researcher visited the unit as per the appointment to get the signed consent of the participants [ 26 ].…”

“…The study was conducted in the selected CHC and PHC facilities of Ugu and Ngaka Modiri Molema Districts in KZN and NW provinces of South Africa respectively [ 24 , 26 ].…”