| Literature DB >> 34821151 |
Ansley Lemons-Lyn1, William Reidy2, Wah Wah Myint3, Khin N Chan3, Elaine Abrams2, Zaw Zaw Aung4, Irene Benech1, Trista Bingham1, Mitesh Desai5, Ei Ei Khin5, Tharaphi Lin3, Halli Olsen2, Htun Nyunt Oo4, Cassia Wells2, Sasha Mital1.
Abstract
Key populations, ie, female sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who inject drugs, and people in prisons and other closed settings, experience stigma, discrimination, and structural barriers when accessing HIV prevention and care. Public health facilities in Myanmar became increasingly involved in HIV service delivery, leading to an urgent need for healthcare workers to provide client-centred, key population-friendly services. Between July 2017-June 2018, the Myanmar Ministry of Health and Sports and National AIDS Programme collaborated with ICAP at Columbia University and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to implement a quasi-experimental, multicomponent intervention including healthcare worker sensitization training with pre- and post- knowledge assessments, healthcare worker and client satisfaction surveys, and structural changes. We observed modest improvements among healthcare workers (n = 50) in knowledge assessments. Classification of clients into key population groups increased and fewer clients were classified as low risk. Key population clients reported favourable perceptions of the quality and confidentiality of care through self-administered surveys. Our findings suggest public health facilities can deliver HIV services that are valued by key population clients.Entities:
Keywords: HIV/AIDS; Myanmar; discrimination; healthcare workers; key populations; stigma
Mesh:
Year: 2021 PMID: 34821151 PMCID: PMC8640295 DOI: 10.1177/23259582211055933
Source DB: PubMed Journal: J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care ISSN: 2325-9574
Figure 1.Timeline of study-related activities.
Number tested and HIV-positive by risk classification, pre- and post- intervention, a pre-intervention period, October-December 2016, and a post-intervention period, September-November 2017
| Pre-intervention | Post-intervention | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Classification of clinic clients | Clients tested for HIV | HIV + results | Proportion of
HIV + among
health facilities | Clients tested
for HIV | HIV + results | Proportion of HIV + among
health facilities | |
| Low Risk | 339 (32%) | 34 (10%) |
| 69 (6%) | 15 (22%) |
| |
| Clients of FSW | 309 (29%) | 65 (21%) |
| 383 (34%) | 73 (19%) |
| |
| Partner of KP | 353 (33%) | 111 (31%) |
| 393 (35%) | 88 (22%) |
| |
| Any KP client | 62 (6%) | 20 (32%) |
| 279 (25%) | 66 (24%) |
| |
| FSW | 45 (4%) | 15 (33%) |
| 189 (17%) | 31 (16%) |
| |
| MSM | 14 (1%) | 4 (29%) |
| 74 (7%) | 27 (37%) |
| |
| PWID | 3 (0.3%) | 1 (33%) |
| 16 (1%) | 8 (50%) |
| |
| Total | 1063 (100%) | 230 (22%) |
| 1124 (100%) | 242 (22%) |
| |
Participant characteristics and survey responses of KP clients receiving HIV testing services (a) and HIV care (b).
| a.) HIV testing services clients (n = 33) | b.) HIV care patients (n = 29) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| n | % |
| n | % |
| Gender | Gender | ||||
| Female | 17 | 52% | Female | 13 | 45% |
| Male | 13 | 39% | Male | 16 | 55% |
| Transgender | 2 | 6% | Transgender | 0 | 0% |
| No answer | 1 | 3% | |||
| Age | Age | ||||
| Median (IQR) | 26 years (23-32) | Median (IQR) | 33 years (24-42) | ||
| Highest level of education completed | Highest level of education completed | ||||
| College or post-graduate | 5 | 15% | College or post-graduate | 8 | 28% |
| High school | 12 | 36% | High school | 4 | 14% |
| Middle school | 9 | 27% | Middle school | 5 | 17% |
| Less than middle/elementary | 7 | 21% | Less than middle/elementary | 12 | 41% |
| KP classification (all that apply) | KP classification (all that apply) | ||||
| Sex worker | 13 | 39% | Sex worker | 12 | 41% |
| PWID | 8 | 24% | PWID | 1 | 3% |
| MSM | 6 | 18% | MSM | 16 | 55% |
| Transgender | 6 | 18% | Transgender | 3 | 10% |
| HIV testing history at health facility | Self-reported health status | ||||
| Tested at this facility | 5 | 15% | Excellent or very good | 6 | 21% |
| Tested, but at another facility | 18 | 55% | Good | 11 | 38% |
| No prior test | 10 | 30% | Fair or poor | 12 | 41% |
| Calendar year of HIV diagnosis | |||||
| Current year | 7 | 24% | |||
| Last year | 7 | 24% | |||
| 2 + years | 15 | 52% | |||
| Receiving ART | 28 | 97% | |||
| Missed visit(s) in past 3 months | 5 | 17% | |||
|
|
| ||||
| How happy are you with the services at this clinic? | How happy are you with the services at this clinic? | ||||
| Very happy | 18 | 55% | Very happy | 11 | 38% |
| Somewhat happy | 12 | 36% | Somewhat happy | 16 | 55% |
| Not happy | 0 | 0% | Not happy | 2 | 7% |
| Don’t know | 2 | 6% | |||
| No answer | 1 | 3% | |||
| How comfortable asking HCW questions? | How comfortable asking HCW questions? | ||||
| Very comfortable | 24 | 73% | Very comfortable | 19 | 66% |
| Somewhat comfortable | 9 | 27% | Somewhat comfortable | 10 | 35% |
| Not at all comfortable | 0 | 0% | Not at all comfortable | 0 | 0% |
| HCWs at this facility are well trained | HCWs at this facility are well trained and experienced | ||||
| Strongly agree or agree | 33 | 100% | Strongly agree or agree | 25 | 86% |
| Neutral | 0 | 0% | Neutral | 4 | 14% |
| Strongly disagree or disagree | 0 | 0% | Strongly disagree or disagree | 0 | 0% |
| Believe that information is kept confidential? | Believe that information is kept confidential? | ||||
| Yes | 23 | 70% | Yes | 22 | 76% |
| No | 8 | 24% | No | 6 | 21% |
| Don't know | 2 | 6% | Don't know | 1 | 3% |
| You feel safe and free from stigma in this waiting area. | You feel safe and free from stigma in this waiting area. | ||||
| Strongly agree or agree | 20 | 61% | Strongly agree or agree | 18 | 62% |
| Neutral / Don't know | 5 | 15% | Neutral | 7 | 24% |
| Strongly disagree or disagree | 7 | 21% | Strongly disagree or disagree | 4 | 14% |
| No answer | 1 | 3% | |||
| Experienced discrimination at this facility during current visit? | Number and % of respondents who reported the following in the past 3 months at the public health facility: | ||||
| Yes | 0 | 0% | Was verbally insulted/harassed | 5 | 17% |
| No | 33 | 100% | Received sub-standard care | 3 | 10% |
| Was not treated with respect/dignity | 3 | 10% | |||
| Was gossiped about by HCW | 1 | 3% | |||
| Experienced discrimination | 1 | 3% | |||
| HCW did not keep confidentially | 0 | 0% | |||
HCW participant characteristics and responses to study survey (n = 30).
| n | % | |
|---|---|---|
|
| ||
| Sex | ||
| Female | 23 | 77% |
| Male | 7 | 23% |
| Age | ||
| <25 years | 8 | 27% |
| 25 to 34 years | 9 | 30% |
| 35 to 44 years | 5 | 17% |
| 45 + years | 8 | 27% |
| Cadre | ||
| Nurse/midwife | 14 | 47% |
| Lab technician | 5 | 17% |
| Medical doctor | 4 | 13% |
| Community counsellor | 2 | 7% |
| Other* | 5 | 17% |
| Years worked in current position | ||
| < 1 year | 1 | 3% |
| 1 to 2 years | 5 | 17% |
| 3 to 5 years | 11 | 37% |
| 5 to 10 years | 2 | 7% |
| > 10 years | 11 | 37% |
|
| ||
| Sensitization training helped you to provide better care to KPs | ||
| Agree or strongly agree | 29 | 97% |
| Neutral | 1 | 3% |
| Disagree or strongly disagree | 0 | 0% |
| Sensitization training helped provide more welcoming environment for KPs | ||
| Agree or strongly agree | 28 | 93% |
| Neutral | 2 | 7% |
| Disagree or strongly disagree | 0 | 0% |
| Feel comfortable providing care for KPs | ||
| Agree or strongly agree | 24 | 80% |
| Neutral | 4 | 13% |
| Disagree or strongly disagree | 2 | 7% |
| Feel adequately trained and experienced to provide high quality services for KPs | ||
| Agree or strongly agree | 20 | 67% |
| Neutral** | 10 | 33% |
| Disagree or strongly disagree | 0 | 0% |
|
| ||
| KPs do not deserve the same quality of care as other patients | ||
| Agree or strongly agree | 1 | 3% |
| Disagree or strongly disagree | 28 | 93% |
| Don't want to answer | 1 | 3% |
| Witnessed discrimination in health facility in past 6 months | ||
| Yes | 10 | 33% |
| No | 20 | 67% |
| What can be done to improve services for KPs | ||
| Additional training of HCW | 23 | 77% |
| Revision of laws and regulations | 7 | 23% |
| Special clinic hours for KPs | 5 | 17% |
| Development of new policies | 5 | 17% |
Other cadres include dresser (3), investigator (1), and social worker (1)
Neutral category includes 1 response of Don't know and 2 responses of Don't want to answer