PMTCT Option B+ 2012 to 2018 - Taking stock: barriers and strategies to improve adherence to Option B+ in urban and rural Uganda.

PMTCT Option B+ 2012 to 2018 - Taking stock: barriers and strategies to improve adherence to Option B+ in urban and rural Uganda. Afr J AIDS Res. 2020 Jul;19(2):135-146 Authors: King R, Matovu JN, Rujumba J, Wavamunno P, Amone A, Gabagaya G, Fowler MG, Homsy J, Seeley J, Musoke P Abstract Since 2012, PMTCT Option B+ has been recommended by the World Health Organization to reduce vertical transmission but numerous adherence challenges remain. We conducted a qualitative study at baseline using six focus group discussions and 14 in-depth interviews to explore knowledge, beliefs, attitudes and challenges towards the Option B+ strategy for PMTCT among HIV-infected pregnant and post-partum women and health workers engaged in Uganda's national Option B+ PMTCT programme. Data were analysed using a thematic approach to capture latent and manifest content with the social ecological model as a theoretic foundation in order to make contextual sense of key stakeholders' needs for an effective Option B+ intervention. Overall, among all study participants, we found multi-level barriers to adhering to Option B+ cutting across all levels of the social ecological model. In line with the model, our study revealed barriers at personal, relational, organizational and societal levels. Some personal beliefs such as that the baby's health is more important that the mother's, organizational (negative attitudes and behaviour of health workers), structural suc...
Source: African Journal of AIDS Research - Category: African Health Tags: Afr J AIDS Res Source Type: research