Evaluation of selected aspects of the Nutrition Therapeutic Programme offered to HIV-positive women of child-bearing age in Western Cape Province, South Africa

BACKGROUND: The Nutrition Therapeutic Programme (NTP) involves the provision of food supplements at primary health clinics (PHCs) to correct nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable groups. Although previous studies have identified problems with implementing the programme at PHCs, assessments of its e...

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Autores principales: Hansen, Tine T., Herselman, Marietjie, du Plessis, Lisanne, Daniels, Luzette, Bezuidenhout, Tirsa, van Niekerk, Cora, Truter, Laura, Iversen, Per O.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: AOSIS OpenJournals 2015
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5843079/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29568577
http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajhivmed.v16i1.338
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author Hansen, Tine T.
Herselman, Marietjie
du Plessis, Lisanne
Daniels, Luzette
Bezuidenhout, Tirsa
van Niekerk, Cora
Truter, Laura
Iversen, Per O.
author_facet Hansen, Tine T.
Herselman, Marietjie
du Plessis, Lisanne
Daniels, Luzette
Bezuidenhout, Tirsa
van Niekerk, Cora
Truter, Laura
Iversen, Per O.
author_sort Hansen, Tine T.
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: The Nutrition Therapeutic Programme (NTP) involves the provision of food supplements at primary health clinics (PHCs) to correct nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable groups. Although previous studies have identified problems with implementing the programme at PHCs, assessments of its efficiency have been scarce. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate implementation of the NTP at PHCs that provide antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted at 17 PHCs located within 3 districts of Western Cape Province. Two target groups were chosen: 32 staff members working at the sites and 21 women of child-bearing age enrolled in the NTP. Questionnaires were used to obtain data. RESULTS: Only 2 women (10%) lived in food-secure households; the rest were either at risk of hunger (29%) or classified as hungry (61%). Most of the women knew they had to take the supplements to improve their nutritional status, but the majority only recalled receiving basic nutritional advice, and the information was mainly given verbally. Ten of the women had shared their supplements with others, mostly with their children. The study identified lack of clearly defined NTP responsibilities at the PHCs, causing confusion amongst the staff. Although many staff members expressed problems with the NTP, only 38% of them reported having routine evaluations regarding the programme. CONCLUSION: Several aspects compromised the effectiveness of the NTP, including socio-economic factors leading to clients' non-compliance. The strategic organisation and implementation of the NTP varied between different PHCs offering antiretroviral therapy, and staff experienced difficulties with the logistics of the programme.
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spelling pubmed-58430792018-03-22 Evaluation of selected aspects of the Nutrition Therapeutic Programme offered to HIV-positive women of child-bearing age in Western Cape Province, South Africa Hansen, Tine T. Herselman, Marietjie du Plessis, Lisanne Daniels, Luzette Bezuidenhout, Tirsa van Niekerk, Cora Truter, Laura Iversen, Per O. South Afr J HIV Med Original Research BACKGROUND: The Nutrition Therapeutic Programme (NTP) involves the provision of food supplements at primary health clinics (PHCs) to correct nutritional deficiencies in vulnerable groups. Although previous studies have identified problems with implementing the programme at PHCs, assessments of its efficiency have been scarce. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate implementation of the NTP at PHCs that provide antiretroviral therapy. METHODS: A cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted at 17 PHCs located within 3 districts of Western Cape Province. Two target groups were chosen: 32 staff members working at the sites and 21 women of child-bearing age enrolled in the NTP. Questionnaires were used to obtain data. RESULTS: Only 2 women (10%) lived in food-secure households; the rest were either at risk of hunger (29%) or classified as hungry (61%). Most of the women knew they had to take the supplements to improve their nutritional status, but the majority only recalled receiving basic nutritional advice, and the information was mainly given verbally. Ten of the women had shared their supplements with others, mostly with their children. The study identified lack of clearly defined NTP responsibilities at the PHCs, causing confusion amongst the staff. Although many staff members expressed problems with the NTP, only 38% of them reported having routine evaluations regarding the programme. CONCLUSION: Several aspects compromised the effectiveness of the NTP, including socio-economic factors leading to clients' non-compliance. The strategic organisation and implementation of the NTP varied between different PHCs offering antiretroviral therapy, and staff experienced difficulties with the logistics of the programme. AOSIS OpenJournals 2015-04-28 /pmc/articles/PMC5843079/ /pubmed/29568577 http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajhivmed.v16i1.338 Text en © 2015. The Authors http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/ Licensee: AOSIS OpenJournals. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.
spellingShingle Original Research
Hansen, Tine T.
Herselman, Marietjie
du Plessis, Lisanne
Daniels, Luzette
Bezuidenhout, Tirsa
van Niekerk, Cora
Truter, Laura
Iversen, Per O.
Evaluation of selected aspects of the Nutrition Therapeutic Programme offered to HIV-positive women of child-bearing age in Western Cape Province, South Africa
title Evaluation of selected aspects of the Nutrition Therapeutic Programme offered to HIV-positive women of child-bearing age in Western Cape Province, South Africa
title_full Evaluation of selected aspects of the Nutrition Therapeutic Programme offered to HIV-positive women of child-bearing age in Western Cape Province, South Africa
title_fullStr Evaluation of selected aspects of the Nutrition Therapeutic Programme offered to HIV-positive women of child-bearing age in Western Cape Province, South Africa
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of selected aspects of the Nutrition Therapeutic Programme offered to HIV-positive women of child-bearing age in Western Cape Province, South Africa
title_short Evaluation of selected aspects of the Nutrition Therapeutic Programme offered to HIV-positive women of child-bearing age in Western Cape Province, South Africa
title_sort evaluation of selected aspects of the nutrition therapeutic programme offered to hiv-positive women of child-bearing age in western cape province, south africa
topic Original Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5843079/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29568577
http://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajhivmed.v16i1.338
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