Influence of HIV/AIDS Care and Support Services Accessibility on Utilization among HIV Infected Adults in Baringo County, Kenya

Context: Globally, efforts are being made to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic and improve the general health of people living with HIV/AIDS through continuous access to care and support services. However, the incidence of dropouts from utilization of HIV care and support services is rising among the HIV-p...

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Main Authors: Danvas Otara, Alex Chebor, Evans Raballah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Egyptian Electronic Publisher 2024-04-01
Series:Evidence-Based Nursing Research
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Online Access:https://eepublisher.com/index.php/ebnr/article/view/328
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author Danvas Otara
Alex Chebor
Evans Raballah
author_facet Danvas Otara
Alex Chebor
Evans Raballah
author_sort Danvas Otara
collection DOAJ
description Context: Globally, efforts are being made to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic and improve the general health of people living with HIV/AIDS through continuous access to care and support services. However, the incidence of dropouts from utilization of HIV care and support services is rising among the HIV-positive clients enrolled in comprehensive care clinics in Baringo County for unidentified reasons. As a result, recognizing the opportunities and challenges in low-resourced communities that must be overcome to promote greater access to care and treatment will influence higher utilization. Aim: This study evaluates the influence of accessibility of HIV/AIDS care and support services on the utilization of HIV-infected adults in Baringo County. Methods: The study was conducted in Baringo County HIV comprehensive care centers. An analytical cross-sectional study design was used with 580 participants recruited. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data. Results: Support from social services (p<0.0001), less frequent visits to clinics less than one month (p<0.0001), access to treatment interventions (p<0.0001), and easily accessible information (p <0.0001) were among the factors associated with good accessibility to HIV services, according to bivariate analysis. Conversely, being an atheist (p<0.006), residing in rural areas (p ≤0.0006), difficulty accessing services (p≤0.0001), and getting to another town (p < 0.03) or getting to another county (p ≤0.0004) were linked to inadequate access to HIV/AIDS care and support services. Conclusion: The findings show that the efforts to support clients' access to HIV/AIDS care and support services should be made in response to their individual needs and consideration of geographical location. Besides, individualized HIV/AIDS services access depends on the support provided, where they are located, easily accessible information about the services, and how frequently they are provided. In contrast, living in rural areas, seeking services in a different town, feeling ashamed to visit clinics, and having a lower CD4 count were all associated with poor accessibility and utilization of HIV/AIDS care and support services. Consequently, it is necessary to establish support initiatives to address any of these access issues that particular clients might have.
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spelling doaj-art-a4b350d1b898434e8d2b8769fe0f901b2025-08-20T03:11:54ZengEgyptian Electronic PublisherEvidence-Based Nursing Research2636-39922636-400X2024-04-016210.47104/ebnrojs3.v6i2.333Influence of HIV/AIDS Care and Support Services Accessibility on Utilization among HIV Infected Adults in Baringo County, KenyaDanvas Otara0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2953-4263Alex Chebor1Evans Raballah2School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedical Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya. School of Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedical Sciences, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya. School of Public Health, Biomedical Sciences and Technology, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology, Kakamega, Kenya. Context: Globally, efforts are being made to end the HIV/AIDS pandemic and improve the general health of people living with HIV/AIDS through continuous access to care and support services. However, the incidence of dropouts from utilization of HIV care and support services is rising among the HIV-positive clients enrolled in comprehensive care clinics in Baringo County for unidentified reasons. As a result, recognizing the opportunities and challenges in low-resourced communities that must be overcome to promote greater access to care and treatment will influence higher utilization. Aim: This study evaluates the influence of accessibility of HIV/AIDS care and support services on the utilization of HIV-infected adults in Baringo County. Methods: The study was conducted in Baringo County HIV comprehensive care centers. An analytical cross-sectional study design was used with 580 participants recruited. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to obtain data. Results: Support from social services (p<0.0001), less frequent visits to clinics less than one month (p<0.0001), access to treatment interventions (p<0.0001), and easily accessible information (p <0.0001) were among the factors associated with good accessibility to HIV services, according to bivariate analysis. Conversely, being an atheist (p<0.006), residing in rural areas (p ≤0.0006), difficulty accessing services (p≤0.0001), and getting to another town (p < 0.03) or getting to another county (p ≤0.0004) were linked to inadequate access to HIV/AIDS care and support services. Conclusion: The findings show that the efforts to support clients' access to HIV/AIDS care and support services should be made in response to their individual needs and consideration of geographical location. Besides, individualized HIV/AIDS services access depends on the support provided, where they are located, easily accessible information about the services, and how frequently they are provided. In contrast, living in rural areas, seeking services in a different town, feeling ashamed to visit clinics, and having a lower CD4 count were all associated with poor accessibility and utilization of HIV/AIDS care and support services. Consequently, it is necessary to establish support initiatives to address any of these access issues that particular clients might have. https://eepublisher.com/index.php/ebnr/article/view/328Accessibility, HIV/AIDS care, support services, utilization, Baringo County
spellingShingle Danvas Otara
Alex Chebor
Evans Raballah
Influence of HIV/AIDS Care and Support Services Accessibility on Utilization among HIV Infected Adults in Baringo County, Kenya
Evidence-Based Nursing Research
Accessibility, HIV/AIDS care, support services, utilization, Baringo County
title Influence of HIV/AIDS Care and Support Services Accessibility on Utilization among HIV Infected Adults in Baringo County, Kenya
title_full Influence of HIV/AIDS Care and Support Services Accessibility on Utilization among HIV Infected Adults in Baringo County, Kenya
title_fullStr Influence of HIV/AIDS Care and Support Services Accessibility on Utilization among HIV Infected Adults in Baringo County, Kenya
title_full_unstemmed Influence of HIV/AIDS Care and Support Services Accessibility on Utilization among HIV Infected Adults in Baringo County, Kenya
title_short Influence of HIV/AIDS Care and Support Services Accessibility on Utilization among HIV Infected Adults in Baringo County, Kenya
title_sort influence of hiv aids care and support services accessibility on utilization among hiv infected adults in baringo county kenya
topic Accessibility, HIV/AIDS care, support services, utilization, Baringo County
url https://eepublisher.com/index.php/ebnr/article/view/328
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AT evansraballah influenceofhivaidscareandsupportservicesaccessibilityonutilizationamonghivinfectedadultsinbaringocountykenya