ASSESSING THE FACTORS INFLUENING ACCESS TO COMPREHENSIVE HEALTHCARE FOR HIV/AIDS PATIENTS IN THE THREE MAJOR PUBLIC HOSPITALS IN THE TAMALE METROPOLIS GHANA

Abstract

The study was on quality of care of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH) and registered under the Tamale Central, Tamale West and Tamale Teaching hospitals in the Tamale Metropolis. The aim of the study was to assess factors influencing access to comprehensive healthcare for HIV patients’ in the public Hospitals in the Tamale Metropolis. The study took a descriptive cross-sectional approach with the mixed methods that targeted PLWHA reporting for services between January 27 and February 28, 2018 as the study population. Data were collected through a semi-structured questionnaire utilizing interview approach for patients and key informant interviews with service providers. SPSS version 24 was used for analysis. The results revealed that the main services provided by the three hospitals were, counseling and testing for HIV, management of opportunistic infections and patient support services. Young adults (18-39 years) formed more than half (52.1%) of all HIV patients accessing healthcare at the time of this study and there were more females (82.2%) and half of the respondents had no formal education (50. %). On patients’ accessibility to quality HIV services, the overwhelming proportion (92%) did not see distance as a major problem. However majority (63%) of PLWHA think ART has been very beneficial in improving their ability to work in their livelihoods. The general impression of respondents on perceivable quality of service indicators including accessibility to regular CD4 counts and post-exposure prophylaxis) show that the majority of respondents (55%) felt disappointed in relation to comprehensive care at these Centers. Lack of space or structures, privacy, funding, spousal none-disclosure of HIV condition were some of the challenges affecting healthcare at the HIV clinics. In view of these, the study recommends that, the Government and stakeholders should help to properly equip all HIV clinics with all necessary resources to serve the patients more efficiently. More studies are also needed to model best practices for sharing among stakeholders in order to strengthen service provision in the country.