Research Centre on Public Health, Equity and Human Flourishing (PHEHF), Torrens University Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
Institute of Resource Governance and Social Change, Kupang, East Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia.
PLoS One. 2022 Jul 25;17(7):e0264462. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264462. eCollection 2022.
Access to HIV care services, including antiretroviral therapy (ART), is essential for improving health outcomes of people living with HIV (PLHIV) and reducing HIV transmission and AIDS-related deaths. As a part of a qualitative study in Belu, this paper describes the use of traditional medicines for HIV treatment and family and social influence as barriers to access to HIV care services among PLHIV. One-on-one in-depth interviews were employed to collect data from 46 PLHIV (26 women and 20 men) and 10 healthcare professionals. They were recruited using the snowball sampling technique. The study information sheets were initially posted on information boards in healthcare facilities. Potential participants who contacted to confirm their participation were recruited for an interview and then asked for help to distribute the information sheets to their eligible colleagues who might be willing to participate. Data analysis was performed using NVivo 12 software and guided by a qualitative data analysis framework. The findings showed that the use of traditional medicines, a well-known cultural practice in Belu, was a barrier to access to HIV care services among PLHIV. The influence of family in determining the use of traditional medicines for HIV treatment, supported by the lack of knowledge of ART, effectiveness of traditional medicines in treating other health issues, and social influence of relatives, neighbours, and friends, were also significant barriers to PLHIV's access to HIV care services. The findings indicate the need for dissemination of HIV care-related information for PLHIV, family, and community members to increase their knowledge of the service, ART and its function, and to support and improve access to HIV care services especially ART by PLHIV.
获得艾滋病毒护理服务，包括抗逆转录病毒疗法（ART），对于改善艾滋病毒感染者（PLHIV）的健康结果以及减少艾滋病毒传播和艾滋病相关死亡至关重要。作为在贝鲁进行的一项定性研究的一部分，本文描述了PLHIV 中使用传统药物治疗艾滋病毒以及家庭和社会影响作为获得艾滋病毒护理服务的障碍。采用一对一深入访谈的方式，从 46 名 PLHIV（26 名女性和 20 名男性）和 10 名医疗保健专业人员中收集数据。他们使用滚雪球抽样技术招募。研究信息表最初张贴在医疗机构的信息板上。有意愿参加的潜在参与者联系以确认他们的参与意向后，便会被招募进行访谈，然后请他们帮助将信息表分发给可能愿意参加的合格同事。使用 NVivo 12 软件进行数据分析，并遵循定性数据分析框架。研究结果表明，使用传统药物是 PLHIV 获得艾滋病毒护理服务的障碍，而传统药物在贝鲁是一种众所周知的文化习俗。家庭在决定使用传统药物治疗艾滋病毒方面的影响，以及缺乏对 ART 的了解、传统药物在治疗其他健康问题方面的有效性以及亲戚、邻居和朋友的社会影响，也是 PLHIV 获得艾滋病毒护理服务的重大障碍。研究结果表明，需要向 PLHIV、家庭和社区成员传播艾滋病毒护理相关信息，以提高他们对服务、ART 及其功能的了解，并支持和改善 PLHIV 获得艾滋病毒护理服务，特别是 ART 的机会。
