Table 1. Key Barriers and Solutions to Implementing Prompt and Concurrent HAART and Anti- Tuberculosis Therapy Identified by Bugando Medical Centre Staff Members in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Barriers | Solutions |
Physical unavailability of medications for inpatients – ART and anti-TB medications are considered outpatient drugs and are kept in separate outpatient pharmacy | •Make ART and anti-TB medications available in inpatient pharmacy |
•Place emergency supply of medications “like PEP” (post-exposure prophylaxis) in wards | |
Poor integration between inpatient and outpatient HIV and TB careleading to unavailability of some essential services for inpatients | •Train inpatient nurses to perform traditionally outpatient jobs (medication counseling, ART training sessions, medication distribution) |
Requirement for three counseling sessions to be completedprior to initiation of ART | •Train inpatient nurses to perform counseling |
•Ease policy to allow concurrent counseling with medication administration | |
Shortage of staff during weekends and holidays | •Create responsible on-call team (“like PEP”) for TB and ART medication administration |
•Train inpatient nurses | |
Lack of awareness and/or acceptance of new guidelines forearly ART initiation | •Continuing education for inpatient nurses, pharmacists, physicians, and other healthcare providers |
Patients’ fear of stigma may lead those with TB not todisclose their HIV status | •Cultivation of positive multidisciplinary team approach to patient care |
•Partnership with treatment partners and peer counselors |
Key: ART: antiretroviral therapy. HAART: highly active anti-retroviral therapy. PEP: post-exposure prophylaxis. TB: tuberculosis.