Biology subjects

Bajunirwe, F.

Publications and source records attributed to Bajunirwe, F..

2 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2019

Effectiveness of a mobile antiretroviral pharmacy and HIV care intervention on the continuum of HIV care in rural Uganda

IntroductionAdherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) is critical in order to achieve viral suppression, one of three UNAIDS targets set for achievement before 2020. One of the main barriers to adherence is the long distance between patient residences and healthcare facilities. We designed an intervention, Mobile Antiretroviral Therapy and HIV care (MAP-HC) in rural southwestern Uganda aimed to reduce travel distance and hypothesized that MAP-HC would improve ART adherence and rates of viral load suppression. MethodsThe study was conducted at two sites, Kitagata and Itojo Hospitals, and these are public health facilities located in rural southwestern Uganda. Patients who lived >5km from the hospital were provided the option to participate. For each hospital, we identified 4 health centres in the catchment area to serve as site for the mobile pharmacy. Each site was visited once a month to provide ART refills, adherence counseling and treatment of other illnesses. We measured patient waiting time, adherence and viral load suppression before and after the intervention. ResultsWe conducted baseline assessment among 292 patients at the two hospitals. The mean waiting time at Kitagata Hospital changed from 4.48 hours before the intervention but increased to 4.76 hours after the intervention (p=0.13). The proportion of patients who missed an ART dose in the last 30 days dropped from 20% at baseline to 8.5% at 12 months after the intervention (p=0.009). The proportion of patients with detectable viral load from 19.9% to 7.4% after the intervention (p=0.001). ConclusionsOur study has showed that a mobile pharmacy intervention in rural Uganda is feasible and resulted in improvement in adherence and viral load suppression. Although it did not reduce patient waiting time at the clinic, we recommend a scale-up of this intervention in rural areas where patients face challenges of transportation to the clinic.

epidemiology↗

bioRxiv2019

Persistence of traditional and emergence of new structural drivers and factors for the HIV epidemic in rural Uganda; a qualitative study

BackgroundIn Uganda, the HIV epidemic is now mature and generalized. Recently, there have been reports of resurgence in the incidence of HIV after several years of successful control. The causes for this resurgence are not clear but suspected to be driven by structural factors that influence large groups of people rather than individuals. The aim of this study was to describe the structural drivers of the HIV epidemic and inform the next generation of interventions.\n\nMethodologyWe conducted a total of 35 focus group discussions in 11 districts in Uganda. Focus groups consisted of men and women including opinion leaders, civil servants including teachers, police officers, religious, political leaders, shop keepers, local residents and other ordinary persons from all walks of life. The qualitative data were transcribed and analyzed manually. Texts were coded using a coding scheme which was prepared ahead of time but emerging themes and codes were also allowed.\n\nResultsOur data indicated there is persistence of several structural drivers and factors for HIV in rural Uganda. The structural drivers of HIV were divided into three categories: Gender issues, socio-cultural, and economic drivers. The specific drivers included several gender issues, stigma surrounding illness, traditional medical practices, urbanization, alcohol and substance abuse and poverty. New drivers arising from urbanization, easy access to mobile phone, internet and technological advancement have emerged. These drivers are intertwined within an existing culture, lifestyle and the mixture is influenced by modernization.\n\nConclusionThe traditional structural drivers of HIV have persisted since the emergence of the HIV epidemic in Uganda and new ones have emerged. All these drivers may require combined structural interventions that are culturally and locally adapted in order to tackle the resurgence in incidence of HIV in Uganda.

epidemiology↗