Facilitators and Barriers to Linkage to HIV Care among Female Sex Workers Receiving HIV Testing Services at a Community-Based Organization in Periurban Uganda: A Qualitative Study
Table 2
Facilitators for linkage into HIV care.
Theme
Subtheme
Key emerging issues
Health systems factors
Good quality service offered by Reach Out Mbuya
(i) Good attitude and friendliness exhibited by counsellors (ii) Counsellors provided detailed information and encouragement to start treatment (iii) Good follow-up support using phone calls and home visits (iv) Same-day results and immediate initiation on treatment (v) Linkage and retention support: encouragement and reminders from peers trained by ROM (vi) Short distance to the clinic
Social network factors
Enrolment in a savings group
(i) Encouragement from group members (ii) Restored hope (iii) Money for food and capital to start business
Need to remain healthy
(i) Continue work (ii) Avoid signs of opportunistic infections (iii) To live longer and take care of their children
Experiences of HIV infected colleagues and friends
(i) Sick friends improving (ii) Sick colleagues dying of HIV