Acceptability of community-based adherence clubs among health facility staff in South Africa: a qualitative study

Tshuma, Ndumiso; Mosikare, Ofentse; Yun, Jessica A; Alaba, Olufunke A; Maheedhariah, Meera S; Muloongo, Keith; Nyasulu, Peter S

Acceptability of community-based adherence clubs among health facility staff in South Africa: a qualitative study

Journal Article

2017

Journal Title

Patient Preference and Adherence

Link to Journal

https://dx.doi.org/10.2147/PPA.S116826

Department

Department of Public Health and Family Medicine

Faculty

Faculty of Health Sciences

Abstract

Patient retention in care for HIV/AIDS is a critical challenge for antiretroviral treatment programs. Community-based adherence programs (CBAPs) as compared to health care facility-based adherence programs have been considered as one of the options to provide treatment maintenance support for groups of patients on antiretroviral therapy. Such an approach provides a way of enhancing self-management of the patient’s condition. In addition, CBAPs have been implemented to support antiretroviral treatment expansion in resource-limited settings. CBAPs involve 30 patients that are allocated to a group and meet at either a facility or a community venue for less than an hour every 2 or 3 months depending on the supply of medication. Our study aimed to establish perceived challenges in moving adherence clubs from health facilities to communities.