Barriers of accessing anti-retroviral treatment by older persons living with HIV/AIDS during the COVID 19 lockdown in Uganda.

Abstract

This study examined barriers of accessing ART by older persons living with HIV during COVID-19 lockdown in Uganda. The study was conducted at Kasangati Health Center IV, Wakiso District. The study specifically focused on individual factors that limited access to antiretroviral treatment during COVID-19 lockdown, socio-economic factors that limited access to antiretroviral treatment during COVID-19 lockdown and health facility factors that limited access to antiretroviral treatment during COVID-19 lockdown by older persons living with HIV. The study used a descriptive design using qualitative approach. The study findings revealed that Individual factors that limited access to antiretroviral treatment by older persons during COVID-19 lockdown included ignorance, limited knowledge, transport costs, and fear of stigma. The study findings revealed that health facility related barriers to accessing ART services among older persons living with HIV on ART were issues such as limited funds, and lack of relevant policy to guide access to services at the healthy facility. The study findings revealed that social – economic related barriers to accessing ART services among older PLHIV on ART are mainly rooted into issues such as limited funds, and lack of relevant policy to guide access to services at the healthy facility which all these factors discourage older PLHIV on ART from accessing ART services at the health facility. The study recommends that communities should create conducive environments free from any form of stigma and discrimination so that older PLHIV on ART are able to live in their communities in harmony this can be done through conducting awareness campaigns about the importance of accessing ART services. Health workers at the healthy facility should always sensitize older PLHIV on ART about the importance of ART services hence improving on their quality of life.