Barriers and Facilitators for Timely Linkage to HIV Care in Curaçao, and Recommendations for Targeted Public Health Interventions

Baekelandt, E.R.F. (Elisabeth) (2017) Barriers and Facilitators for Timely Linkage to HIV Care in Curaçao, and Recommendations for Targeted Public Health Interventions. thesis, Medicine.

Text BaekelandtERF.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (1MB)

Abstract

After sub-Saharan Africa, the Caribbean region has the highest HIV prevalence in the world. In Curaçao, the HIV incidence has continued to rise over the years. Plans are in place to introduce universal testing, followed by treatment with the aim of reducing viral transmissions. However, for this public health intervention to be effective, there needs to be adequate linkage to and retention in HIV care. Current evidence suggests that people living with HIV in Curaçao have poor linkage and retention in HIV care. Qualitative research methods were used to explore barriers and facilitators for timely linkage to care for patients diagnosed with HIV in Curaçao. 28 semi-structured interviews were carried out, 13 participants had timely linkage to HIV care, 14 had late linkage to care and two were not linked to HIV care. Interviews were also conducted with stakeholders involved in HIV care. Overall participants identified 15 barriers and 11 facilitators to timely linkage to HIV care. All groups commonly mentioned fear of HIV status disclosure and negative attitude of others as barriers to seeking HIV care. Other barriers described were health system factors, such as poor information provision by GPs, negative staff attitude and lack of health insurance. Social and personal barriers that were frequently described include self-stigmatization and denial. Based on the observations, public health recommendations for Curaçao were made. Implementing a test and treat programme without addressing reason for poor LTC identified in this study will seriously undermine the effectiveness of the test and treat programme on Curaçao.

Item Type:	Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Facultair Begeleider: and Duits, Prof.Dr.A.J.
Supervisor name:	Tweede Begeleider: and Dr. I. Gerstenbluth and Afdeeling Epidemiologie en Onderzoek, Geneeskunde en Gezondh
Faculty:	Medical Sciences
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2020 10:44
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2020 10:44
URI:	https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/532

Actions (login required)

View Item