Abstract
AbstractBackground: At Kgapane Hospital, Limpopo Province, only 20% of eligible children initiated antiretroviral treatment (ART) in 2007. The aim of this study was to improve the ART programme by assessing how children were accessing ART, and to explore the factors that facilitate or obstruct this access.Method: Mixed methods were used in a descriptive study of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected children admitted to the hospital over a seven-month period and their caregivers. Children's subsequent attendance for ART was tracked and caregivers were interviewed about factors influencing access and attendance.Results: Of 132 children initially admitted, 14 (10.6%) subsequently died and 13 (9.8%) relocated. Sixty of the remaining 105 (57.1%) returned within one month to the antiretroviral clinic, three (2.9%) attended later and 42 (40.0%) did not return at all. Quantitative data associated with poor attendance were younger age, higher CD4 count, maternal caregiver, no income and participation in the...
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