Background: Point-of-care (POC) CD4+ technologies have the potential to increase patient access to treatment and care through rapid testing and result delivery at or close to where patients seek care. South African (SA) guidelines suggest the use of CD4+ testing to prioritise patients most in need of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and to support identification of patients with advanced HIV disease and opportunistic management of patients on ART. Understanding the patient impact of implementing POC CD4+ testing in the intended setting and operated by lower cadres of healthcare worker or non-professional healthcare facility staff will provide valuable insight into the appropriate use and placement of POC CD4+ technologies throughout SA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough HIV/AIDS constitute a significant health burden among children in South Africa, testing and counselling of exposed children are inadequate. It is therefore imperative that factors relating to paediatric HCT services offered by health workers are examined. This study was conducted to explore and describe the perceptions and experiences of trained professional nurses regarding HIV counselling and testing among children.
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