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. 2020 Sep 30;37(Suppl 1):18.
doi: 10.11604/pamj.supp.2020.37.18.25443. eCollection 2020.

Preparedness of health facilities providing HIV services during COVID-19 pandemic and assessment of their compliance to COVID-19 prevention measures: findings from the Tanzania Service Provision Assessment (SPA) survey

Shraddha Bajaria  1 , Ramadhani Abdul  2
Affiliations

Preparedness of health facilities providing HIV services during COVID-19 pandemic and assessment of their compliance to COVID-19 prevention measures: findings from the Tanzania Service Provision Assessment (SPA) survey

Shraddha Bajaria et al. Pan Afr Med J. .

Abstract

Introduction: the increased demands of health facilities and workers due to coronavirus overwhelm the already burdened Tanzanian health systems. This study evaluates the current capacity of facilities and providers for HIV care and treatment services and their preparedness to adhere to the national and global precaution guidelines for HIV service providers and patients.

Methods: data for this study come from the latest available, Tanzania Service Provision Assessment survey 2014-15. Frequencies and percentages described the readiness and availability of HIV services and providers. Chi-square test compared the distribution of services by facility location and availability and readiness of precaution commodities and HIV services by managing authorities.

Results: availability of latex gloves was high (83% at OPD and 95.3% laboratory). Availability of medical masks, alcohol-based hand rub and disinfectants was low. Availability of medical mask at outpatient department (OPD) was 28.7% urban (23.5% public; 33.8% private, p=0.02) and 13.5% rural (10.1% public; 25.4% private, p=0.001) and lower at laboratories. Fewer facilities in rural area (68.4%) had running water in OPD than urban (86.3%). Higher proportions of providers at public than private facilities in urban (82.8% versus 73.1%) and rural (88.2% versus 81.6%) areas provided HIV test counseling and at least two other HIV services.

Conclusion: availability of commodities such as medical masks, alcohol-based hand rub, and disinfectant was low while the readiness of providers to multitask HIV related services was high. Urgent distribution and re-assessment of these supplies are necessary, to protect HIV patients, their caregivers, and health providers from COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; HIV; Tanzania; health system.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
distribution of HIV services by geographical zones
Figure 2
Figure 2
A) qualifications of health providers at private facilities; B) qualifications of health providers at public facilities
Figure 3
Figure 3
distribution of specific PMTCT services by facilities managing authority
Figure 4
Figure 4
A) availability of COVID-19 prevention products at facilities in urban area; B) availability of COVID-19 prevention products at facilities in rural area
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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