Facilitators and barriers for healthcare workers' adherence to the national nutritional guidelines for people living with HIV in Dar-es-Salaam: A mixed-method study.

The dual burden of HIV and malnutrition is a significant public health challenge in high burden Sub-Saharan African countries. Tanzania is no exception. Care and treatment of HIV has been strengthened in these countries, however integration with nutrition care and support remains poor. This study ev...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Felistar Mwakasungura, Rebecca Mkumbwa, Bruno Sunguya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2025-01-01
Series:PLOS Global Public Health
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003664
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849761767206420480
author Felistar Mwakasungura
Rebecca Mkumbwa
Bruno Sunguya
author_facet Felistar Mwakasungura
Rebecca Mkumbwa
Bruno Sunguya
author_sort Felistar Mwakasungura
collection DOAJ
description The dual burden of HIV and malnutrition is a significant public health challenge in high burden Sub-Saharan African countries. Tanzania is no exception. Care and treatment of HIV has been strengthened in these countries, however integration with nutrition care and support remains poor. This study evaluated adherence to nutritional guidelines for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Dar es Salaam Tanzania and identified its influencing factors. A mixed method study was conducted among PLHIV, health facility administrators, and healthcare providers from April 29 to May 27, 2024. Data were collected through observation checklists, structured questionnaires, and in-depth interviews. Statistical and qualitative analyses were performed to assess adherence and determinants. Among 478 participants who received care, only 19.5% were managed while adhering to the national nutritional guidelines. Universally, anthropometric assessments were taken, however, only 1% received micronutrient supplements. Higher education (AOR = 5.08, p = 0.019) and attendance at referral hospitals (AOR = 8.23, p = 0.032) positively influenced adherence. Conversely, nurse attendance (AOR = 0.34, p = 0.038), adequate staffing (AOR = 0.31, p = 0.010), and urban residence (AOR = 0.47, p = 0.009) negatively influenced adherence. Key facilitators included consistent training and supportive leadership while financial constraints and high staff turnover remained important barriers. There is a significant gap in adherence to nutritional guidelines among PLHIV in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This highlights the need for improved resource distribution, staff training, and clients education in Tanzania and countries with similar contexts.
format Article
id doaj-art-6be0d8b98f404e5eba084a7aa3d4cd05
institution DOAJ
issn 2767-3375
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLOS Global Public Health
spelling doaj-art-6be0d8b98f404e5eba084a7aa3d4cd052025-08-20T03:05:55ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLOS Global Public Health2767-33752025-01-0152e000366410.1371/journal.pgph.0003664Facilitators and barriers for healthcare workers' adherence to the national nutritional guidelines for people living with HIV in Dar-es-Salaam: A mixed-method study.Felistar MwakasunguraRebecca MkumbwaBruno SunguyaThe dual burden of HIV and malnutrition is a significant public health challenge in high burden Sub-Saharan African countries. Tanzania is no exception. Care and treatment of HIV has been strengthened in these countries, however integration with nutrition care and support remains poor. This study evaluated adherence to nutritional guidelines for people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Dar es Salaam Tanzania and identified its influencing factors. A mixed method study was conducted among PLHIV, health facility administrators, and healthcare providers from April 29 to May 27, 2024. Data were collected through observation checklists, structured questionnaires, and in-depth interviews. Statistical and qualitative analyses were performed to assess adherence and determinants. Among 478 participants who received care, only 19.5% were managed while adhering to the national nutritional guidelines. Universally, anthropometric assessments were taken, however, only 1% received micronutrient supplements. Higher education (AOR = 5.08, p = 0.019) and attendance at referral hospitals (AOR = 8.23, p = 0.032) positively influenced adherence. Conversely, nurse attendance (AOR = 0.34, p = 0.038), adequate staffing (AOR = 0.31, p = 0.010), and urban residence (AOR = 0.47, p = 0.009) negatively influenced adherence. Key facilitators included consistent training and supportive leadership while financial constraints and high staff turnover remained important barriers. There is a significant gap in adherence to nutritional guidelines among PLHIV in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. This highlights the need for improved resource distribution, staff training, and clients education in Tanzania and countries with similar contexts.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003664
spellingShingle Felistar Mwakasungura
Rebecca Mkumbwa
Bruno Sunguya
Facilitators and barriers for healthcare workers' adherence to the national nutritional guidelines for people living with HIV in Dar-es-Salaam: A mixed-method study.
PLOS Global Public Health
title Facilitators and barriers for healthcare workers' adherence to the national nutritional guidelines for people living with HIV in Dar-es-Salaam: A mixed-method study.
title_full Facilitators and barriers for healthcare workers' adherence to the national nutritional guidelines for people living with HIV in Dar-es-Salaam: A mixed-method study.
title_fullStr Facilitators and barriers for healthcare workers' adherence to the national nutritional guidelines for people living with HIV in Dar-es-Salaam: A mixed-method study.
title_full_unstemmed Facilitators and barriers for healthcare workers' adherence to the national nutritional guidelines for people living with HIV in Dar-es-Salaam: A mixed-method study.
title_short Facilitators and barriers for healthcare workers' adherence to the national nutritional guidelines for people living with HIV in Dar-es-Salaam: A mixed-method study.
title_sort facilitators and barriers for healthcare workers adherence to the national nutritional guidelines for people living with hiv in dar es salaam a mixed method study
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgph.0003664
work_keys_str_mv AT felistarmwakasungura facilitatorsandbarriersforhealthcareworkersadherencetothenationalnutritionalguidelinesforpeoplelivingwithhivindaressalaamamixedmethodstudy
AT rebeccamkumbwa facilitatorsandbarriersforhealthcareworkersadherencetothenationalnutritionalguidelinesforpeoplelivingwithhivindaressalaamamixedmethodstudy
AT brunosunguya facilitatorsandbarriersforhealthcareworkersadherencetothenationalnutritionalguidelinesforpeoplelivingwithhivindaressalaamamixedmethodstudy