Perspectives of people living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus regarding the integration of their care into primary health care services at Okankolo Health Center, Namibia
Loading...
Date
2025
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
University of Namibia
Abstract
Integrating HIV/AIDS services with primary health care means that health facilities
operate as a single department. Integration involves sharing resources, space, staff,
registers, and operating rooms, rather than having separate departments with their own
staff and equipment. The aim of the study was to explore the perspectives of People Living
with HIV (PLHIV) regarding the integration of HIV/AIDS care with existing Primary
Health Services in Okankolo Health Centre (OHC), Onandjokwe District, Oshikoto
Region, Namibia. The objectives of the study were to explore and describe the
perspectives of PLHIV as well as to understand what input PLHIV have on the integration
of the two services. A qualitative research approach with an explorative design was used
during the study. An interview guide, an audio recorder, and field notes were used during
in-depth face-to-face interviews. Participants were male and female, aged between 18 and
50, who had been collecting their Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) medication at Okankolo
Health Centre before and after the system was integrated. A purposive sample of nine
PLHIV was selected and interviewed. The sample size was determined by data saturation.
Tesch’s eight steps of coding was used to analyze data. The study findings showed that
PLHIV at Okankolo Health Centre are comfortable with integration system, as it creates
bonds between clients and health care workers, reduce stigma and reduce number of visits
to the health care centers. Although participants are satisfied with the integration system,
they still face challenges such as bad attitudes from nurses, long waiting time at the facility
and lack of privacy at the Pharmacy. It is therefore recommended for the ministry of health
to keep up integration services, training and education on integration to be offered in
ii
nursing schools, and for Onandjokwe Primary Health Care Supervisor (PHCS) to come
up with ways of creating privacy at the pharmacy when medication are being dispensed
Description
A theses submitted in Partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master in Public Health
Keywords
Viewpoints, Patients, Clinics Mental health, Primary health care, HIV/AIDS, Okankolo Health Centre (OHC)