Health Quality Assurance Unit, Ministry of Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children, P. O. Box 743, Dodoma, Tanzania.
School of Public Health and Social Sciences, Department of Development Studies, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P. O. Box 65454, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Afr Health Sci. 2022 Jun;22(2):46-53. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v22i2.6.
HIV rapid testing services is one among key interventions in the controlling of HIV/AIDS. Despite availability of quality standards, the quality of HIV rapid testing services remains questionable since non-laboratory testers are allowed to conduct testing while they are not specialized in providing testing services.
To evaluate the compliance to the quality standards of HIV rapid testing services provided by non-laboratory testers in Makete District, Tanzania.
An explanatory descriptive study employing quantitative approach of data collection was used. An observation of 23 non-laboratory testers performing HIV rapid tests, observation of HIV testing points and documents review was done in 23 testing points to collect data. Data were analyzed using a programmed excel sheet and a three-point scale was used to determine the level of compliance to quality standards.
Analysis shows that out of 23 testing points visited, the level of compliance to quality standards was lower for 22 (95.6%) testing points and moderate in 1 (4.4%) testing point. None of the testing point was highly complied to quality standards for HIV rapid testing services.
The quality of HIV rapid testing services provided by non-laboratory testers is below the established quality standards for HIV rapid testing services.
HIV 快速检测服务是控制 HIV/AIDS 的关键干预措施之一。尽管有质量标准,但由于允许非实验室检测人员进行检测,而他们并不专门提供检测服务,因此 HIV 快速检测服务的质量仍存在疑问。
评估坦桑尼亚马凯特地区非实验室检测人员提供的 HIV 快速检测服务对质量标准的遵守情况。
采用定量数据收集方法的解释性描述性研究。在 23 个检测点观察了 23 名非实验室检测人员进行 HIV 快速检测,观察了 HIV 检测点和文件审查,以收集数据。使用编程的 Excel 表格分析数据,并使用三点量表来确定对质量标准的遵守程度。
分析表明,在所访问的 23 个检测点中,22 个(95.6%)检测点对质量标准的遵守程度较低,1 个(4.4%)检测点为中等。没有一个检测点完全符合 HIV 快速检测服务的质量标准。
非实验室检测人员提供的 HIV 快速检测服务质量低于 HIV 快速检测服务的既定质量标准。