| Autor: |
Tabb Z; The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI., Moriarty K; The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI., Schrier MW; Hasbro Children's Hospital, Providence, RI., Amekah E; Winneba Municipal Hospital, Winneba, Ghana., Flanigan TP; Division of Infectious Diseases, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI., Lartey M; Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, University of Ghana Medical School, Accra, Ghana. |
| Abstrakt: |
t In Ghana, HIV voluntary counseling and testing remains poorly utilized. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended opt-out, provider-initiated testing and counseling (PITC) in order to increase utilization and earlier intervention. Yet implementation challenges remain in resource-scarce settings. This study sought to better understand the dynamics of providing PITC at Apam Catholic Hospital, a district referral hospital in Ghana. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with healthcare providers and patients exploring attitudes regarding PITC, community stigma, and HIV knowledge. Results showed healthcare providers believed PITC would lead to earlier diagnosis and intervention, but concerns persisted over increased costs. Patients welcomed PITC, but expressed discomfort in opting-out. Patients demonstrated incomplete HIV knowledge and widely believed spiritual healers and prayer can cure the infection. Acceptance of PITC by both healthcare providers and patients remains high, but concerns over resource costs and HIV knowledge persist as challenges. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2017-08.asp]. |
