DURBAN: The lack of knowledge and the discriminatory attitude of health-care workers remained a barrier to effective HIV testing and treatment among high-risk populations.
A study done by the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre, presented at the International Aids Conference 2016 in Durban yesterday, revealed that health-care workers (HCW) at the government’s regional training centres were particularly discriminatory towards men who have sex with men, sex workers and drug users.
Presenting the study, Zoe Duby said it was necessary to build a capacity of sensitive HCW’s to competently provide appropriate services for men who have sex with men, sex workers and people who use drugs.
This, she said, would be the next step towards meeting HIV prevention, treatment, care and support needed by these key populations.
The pilot programme was rolled out in October 2013 in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern and Northern Cape, Limpopo and the Free State.
It saw 405 health-care workers being trained.
It was found that health-care workers lacked the relevant knowledge, skills or training to manage the particular needs and vulnerabilities of key populations.
“(After training) there was increased health-care worker knowledge and awareness to key populations, a reduction in judgemental attitudes and the health-care workers felt more skilled to provide appropriate and sensitive services.
“Health-care workers sensitisation fostered an enabling environment and increased health service access for men who have sex with men, sex workers and people who use drugs.”
A Free State health-care worker said: “After the training (we realised) that… when they come here (to the health facility) they must feel welcome; they must be like any other patient, we must treat them equally."
Recommendations from the study included better co-ordination between training planners and provincial departments of Health, which would ensure the correct people were trained.
Skills development around clinical management should also be included. Government training structures were ideally suited to provide training, but capacity needed to be built and supported.
According to sexual advocacy group Sex Workers Education and Advocacy Taskforce, there were an estimated 153 000 sex workers in South Africa. HIV prevalence among female sex workers in major metropolitans is estimated to be between 39.4 and 71.8 percent.