Original Research

Evaluation of a task-shifting strategy involving peer educators in HIV care and treatment clinics in Lusaka, Zambia

Lonny j. Born, Chibesa Wamulume, Kim A. Neroda, Nicole Quiterio, Mark J. Giganti, Mary Morris, Carolyn Bolton-Moore, Shelagh Baird, Maggie Sinkamba, Stephanie M. Topp, Stewart E. Reid
Journal of Public Health in Africa | Vol 3, No 1 | a1086 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2012.e3 | © 2024 Lonny j. Born, Chibesa Wamulume, Kim A. Neroda, Nicole Quiterio, Mark J. Giganti, Mary Morris, Carolyn Bolton-Moore, Shelagh Baird, Maggie Sinkamba, Stephanie M. Topp, Stewart E. Reid | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 28 November 2024 | Published: 07 March 2012

About the author(s)

Lonny j. Born, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; and, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
Chibesa Wamulume, Lusaka District Health Management Team, Lusaka, Zambia
Kim A. Neroda, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Nicole Quiterio, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Mark J. Giganti, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Mary Morris, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; and, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Washington, DC, United States
Carolyn Bolton-Moore, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; and, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Shelagh Baird, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
Maggie Sinkamba, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia
Stephanie M. Topp, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; and, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Alabama, United States
Stewart E. Reid, Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia, Lusaka, Zambia; and, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Washington, DC, United States

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Abstract

Rapid expansion of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and a shortage of health care workers (HCWs) required the implementation of a peer educator (PE) model as part of a task-shifting strategy in Lusaka District clinics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate patient and staff perceptions regarding whether the PE program: a) relieved the workload on professional HCWs; and b) delivered services of acceptable quality. Qualitative and quantitative data were gathered from five primary care clinics delivering ART in Lusaka, Zambia. Closed surveys were conducted with 148 patients receiving ART, 29 PEs, and 53 HCWs. Data was imported into Microsoft Excel to calculate descriptive statistics. Six focus group discussions and eight key informant (KI) interviews were conducted, recorded, transcribed, and coded to extract relevant data. Survey results demonstrated that 50 of 53 (96.1%) HCWs agreed PEs reduced the amount of counseling duties required of HCWs. HCWs felt that PEs performed as well as HCWs in counseling patients (48 of 53; 90.6%) and that having PEs conduct counseling enabled clinical staff to see more patients (44 of 53; 83%). A majority of patients (141 of 148; 95.2%) agreed or strongly agreed that PEs were knowledgeable about ART, and 89 of 144 (61.8%) expressed a high level of confidence with PEs performing counseling and related tasks. Focus group and KI interviews supported these findings. PEs helped ease the work burden of HCWs and provided effective counseling, education talks, and adherence support to patients in HIV care. Consideration should be given to formalizing their role in the public health sector.

Keywords

peer educators; Africa; Zambia; HIV; adherence; health care workers; task shifting; counseling

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