Strategies for follow-up care of non-compliant HIV-positive pregnant women

Abstract

In an effort to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV, this study was designed to explore and describe the strategies used by nurses as a follow-up with newly-diagnosed HIV-positive pregnant women who absconded from follow-up care a month following diagnosis. Data were collected through focus group interviews conducted among the professional nurses at accredited anti-retroviral clinics in Buffalo City Municipality, Eastern Cape, South Africa. Strategies to promote compliance include tracking by phoning, contacting the nearest clinic; conducting home visits; involving the family to provide support and assistance to the affected family member and by tracking them through task shifting, that is, the use of patient advocates in the form of community health workers. Functions of the accredited clinics can be decentralized to a lower-level facility, like a primary healthcare clinic or a mobile clinic closer to the community. Nurses are advised to collaborate with other health care service professionals within the prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme. The strategies for following up non-compliant women are recommended as guidelines to promote compliance.

Keywords: HIV-positive, mother-to-child-transmission, newly-diagnosed, strategies, non-compliance.