Quality of care, support and treatment services in Jharkhand's Antiretroviral Therapy Center (ARTC): A mixed methods operational research.

Abstract

India has demonstrated an overall reduction of 57% in estimated annual new HIV infections. Assessing the quality of the ART Centers (ARTC) services would enable us to focus on the gaps and take necessary measures to provide high-quality ART services. An explanatory sequential mixed-methods design was adopted. A cross-sectional survey among PLHIVs and secondary data review with in-depth interview (IDI) among program staff and focus group discussion (FGD) among patients registered at the ARTC were conducted. One of each of the low, medium, and high case load centers was randomly selected. The Chi-square test compared major service indicators between ARTC. Of the 150 patients interviewed from all three centers, 79 (52.7%) were males, and 66 (44%) were illiterate. Treatment adherence was high for 124 (82.7%) of the patients' records checked. The IDIs resulted in three themes: infrastructure, manpower, and services. FGD yielded 15 statements on strengths. They were an adequate drug supply, no discrimination against PLHIVs attending the Center by the staff, and home care services. The quality of care provided to the patients registered was almost satisfactory. However, infrastructure deficiencies, incomplete records, and staff vacancies must be improved.