HIV Care Seeking Pathways and Barriers in Rural Nepal
Author Information
Author(s): Timilsina Amit, Shrestha Anisha, Neupane Pabitra, Nepal Sudip, Kandel Bishow, Devkota Sudha, Thapa Subash
Primary Institution: Research and Community Development Center Kathmandu Nepal
Hypothesis
What are the care-seeking pathways and barriers faced by persons living with HIV in rural Nepal?
Conclusion
The study highlights the need for community-focused programs and economic empowerment to improve HIV care for individuals in rural areas.
Supporting Evidence
- Participants faced socio-cultural barriers like stigma and discrimination.
- Economic hardships made it difficult for participants to access ART services.
- Many participants reported poor health literacy affecting their care-seeking behavior.
- Health system-related issues included mistreatment by healthcare providers.
Takeaway
People living with HIV in rural Nepal face many challenges in getting care, like stigma and lack of money, and need more support from their communities.
Methodology
Qualitative thematic study with in-depth interviews among 21 persons living with HIV and key-informant interviews with 4 health service providers.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the subjective nature of qualitative interviews and the reliance on self-reported data.
Limitations
Findings may not represent broader populations due to selective sampling and the study's qualitative nature.
Participant Demographics
{"age_groups":{"20-30":7,"31-40":8,"41-50":4,"51_and_above":6},"gender":{"male":16,"female":8,"sexual_and_gender_minorities":1},"marital_status":{"married":18,"unmarried":4,"separated":3},"education":{"no_formal_education":5,"primary":5,"secondary":7,"higher_secondary":3,"university":5},"occupation":{"employed":21,"unemployed":4}}
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website