Experiences of HIV positive clients defaulting isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) in King Williams Town area under the Buffalo City municipality in the Eastern Cape Province

Abstract

This qualitative study using a phenomenological design, aimed at exploring and describing and exploring the experiences of HIV positive clients defaulting Isoniazid Preventive Therapy services in the Bhisho Primary Health Care Services. The emphasis was on the factors leading clients to default. An in- depth unstructured face to face interviews were done on 14 participants from 4 clinics or facilities under Bhisho Primary Health Care Services. From the respondents’ responses it can be noted that work and family related issues, ignorance of patients, side effects, and negligence of nurses and denial of HIV status were identified as reasons for defaulting. Having knowledge about the treatment and health providers’ attitudes to patients also played a role in patients defaulting their treatment. Many suggestions were then put forward by the respondents to curb defaulting among patients. These included the use of text message reminders, not to discrimination HIV patients because of their status, to use consulting rooms for privacy and also nurses and caregivers to control their attitudes when dealing with patients.