The impact of HIV/AIDS on the delivery of maternal health care services at selected primary health care clinics in Peddie Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Abstract

Primary Health Care clinics are the primary main entry points for the maternal health care service delivery. The scope of maternal health service delivery has broadened to include HIV/AIDS related interventions. The aim of this descriptive study was to explore and describe the impact of HIV/AIDS on the delivery of maternal health care services at selected Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics in Peddie sub-district, in Eastern Cape, South Africa. Thirty professional nurses working at 10 clinics were randomly selected out of 23 clinics with 57 registered nurses. Participants responded to self-administered questionnaires which elicited questions pertaining to the impact of HIV/AIDS on the rendering of maternal health services. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. The results indicated n=26 (87%) registered nurses maintained that there are added interventions pertaining maternal health service, which has added several interventions in response to the impact of HIV/AIDS such as (PMTCT), dual therapy/triple therapy; shortage of staff (n=29, 97%) due to absenteesem and maternal health is time consuming care due to HIV/AIDS; and increased demand (n=26, 87%) due to impact of HIV/AIDS. Peddie PHC services need to be supported and strengthened in light of the impact of HIV/AIDS in delivery maternal health service. Also, there is need to train specialised professional nurses and staff on maternal HIV related issues.

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, maternal health, ante-natal care, workload, impact.