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BMC Health Services Research
Published in: BMC Health Services Research 1/2014

Open Access 01-12-2014 | Research article

The Lablite project: A cross-sectional mapping survey of decentralized HIV service provision in Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe

Authors: Adrienne K Chan, Deborah Ford, Harriet Namata, Margaret Muzambi, Misheck J Nkhata, George Abongomera, Ivan Mambule, Annabelle South, Paul Revill, Caroline Grundy, Travor Mabugu, Levison Chiwaula, Fabian Cataldo, James Hakim, Janet Seeley, Cissy Kityo, Andrew Reid, Elly Katabira, Sumeet Sodhi, Charles F Gilks, Diana M Gibb, the Lablite Team

Published in: BMC Health Services Research | Issue 1/2014

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Abstract

Background

In sub-Saharan Africa antiretroviral therapy (ART) is being decentralized from tertiary/secondary care facilities to primary care. The Lablite project supports effective decentralization in 3 countries. It began with a cross-sectional survey to describe HIV and ART services.

Methods

81 purposively sampled health facilities in Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe were surveyed.

Results

The lowest level primary health centres comprised 16/20, 21/39 and 16/22 facilities included in Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe respectively. In Malawi and Uganda most primary health facilities had at least 1 medical assistant/clinical officer, with average 2.5 and 4 nurses/midwives for median catchment populations of 29,275 and 9,000 respectively. Primary health facilities in Zimbabwe were run by nurses/midwives, with average 6 for a median catchment population of 8,616. All primary health facilities provided HIV testing and counselling, 50/53 (94%) cotrimoxazole preventive therapy (CPT), 52/53 (98%) prevention of mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) and 30/53 (57%) ART management (1/30 post ART-initiation follow-up only). All secondary and tertiary-level facilities provided HIV and ART services. In total, 58/81 had ART provision. Stock-outs during the 3 months prior to survey occurred across facility levels for HIV test-kits in 55%, 26% and 9% facilities in Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe respectively; for CPT in 58%, 32% and 9% and for PMTCT drugs in 26%, 10% and 0% of facilities (excluding facilities where patients were referred out for either drug). Across all countries, in facilities with ART stored on-site, adult ART stock-outs were reported in 3/44 (7%) facilities compared with 10/43 (23%) facility stock-outs of paediatric ART. Laboratory services at primary health facilities were limited: CD4 was used for ART initiation in 4/9, 5/6 and 13/14 in Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe respectively, but frequently only in selected patients. Routine viral load monitoring was not used; 6/58 (10%) facilities with ART provision accessed centralised viral loads for selected patients.

Conclusions

Although coverage of HIV testing, PMTCT and cotrimoxazole prophylaxis was high in all countries, decentralization of ART services was variable and incomplete. Challenges of staffing and stock management were evident. Laboratory testing for toxicity and treatment effectiveness monitoring was not available in most primary level facilities.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The Lablite project: A cross-sectional mapping survey of decentralized HIV service provision in Malawi, Uganda and Zimbabwe
Authors
Adrienne K Chan
Deborah Ford
Harriet Namata
Margaret Muzambi
Misheck J Nkhata
George Abongomera
Ivan Mambule
Annabelle South
Paul Revill
Caroline Grundy
Travor Mabugu
Levison Chiwaula
Fabian Cataldo
James Hakim
Janet Seeley
Cissy Kityo
Andrew Reid
Elly Katabira
Sumeet Sodhi
Charles F Gilks
Diana M Gibb
the Lablite Team
Publication date
01-12-2014
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Health Services Research / Issue 1/2014
Electronic ISSN: 1472-6963
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-14-352

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