The Effect Of Health Facility Renovation On HIV Counselling And Testing (HCT) Service Utilisation In Health Facilities In The Otjozondjupa Region, Namibia

ABSTRACT

The Ministry of Health and Social Services in Namibia has embarked on a fight against the human immunodeficiency virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) pandemic. The human immunodeficiency virus counselling and testing (HCT) services comprises the core component of the prevention, treatment and care pertaining to HIV. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of the renovation of health facilities on the HCT service utilisation. The study used a quantitative, quasi-experimental research design to determine the effect of health facilities’ renovations on the utilisation of the HCT service. The study population included health facilities that have been renovated, as well as health facilities that have not been renovated, but which met the inclusion criteria. The study sample comprised eight public health facilities that had offered HCT services between 2005 and 2011. Of the eight public health facilities 25% were hospitals, 25% were primary health care centres and 50% were primary health care clinics. Permission was obtained from the ethical review committees of the University of Namibia and the Ministry of Health and Social Services to conduct a pilot study and the actual research study as well as the confidentiality of the clinical records was assurred. The study concluded that there was no significant effect of the renovations to health facilities on HCT service utilisation. However, the study also revealed that 50% of the health facilities that formed the study sample had not been renovated. The study also found that 50% of the health facilities included an adolescents friendly health services (AFHS) room while the remainder did not have such rooms.